News Capsule: Estimated only 64% lifting of FCI rice for ethanol from November to January
07-Feb-2026 08:39 AM
News Capsule: Estimated only 64% lifting of FCI rice for ethanol from November to January
★ From November to January, OMCs placed orders for 780 million litres of rice-based ethanol, which would require 1.74 million tonnes of rice.
★ In contrast, ethanol manufacturers purchased only 64%, i.e., 1.12 million tonnes of rice, from FCI.
★ The government had allocated 5.2 million tonnes of rice for ethanol production.
★ Rice lifting was highest in Uttar Pradesh at 86% and lowest in Rajasthan at 22%. It stood at 40–50% in Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Odisha, while Karnataka recorded 32% and Maharashtra 50%.
★ The biggest reason for the decline in rice lifting is lower corn prices.
★ FCI rice is available at ₹2,320 per quintal, whereas corn is trading at ₹1,750–1,950 per quintal in Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh.
★ On one hand, corn is available at lower prices; on the other, ethanol produced from corn (₹71.66 per litre) is priced higher than ethanol produced from rice (₹60.32 per litre).