TRADE ADVISORY

INDIAN RICE EXPORTERS FEDERATION (IREF)
Dispute Resolution & Advisory (DRA) Wing

TRADE ADVISORY NO.: IREF-TRA/012026   DATE: 28.01.2026

Subject: Trade Advisory – ATC Trading SARL (Cotonou, Benin) – Alleged payment default (USD 95,403) relating to 30 FCL rice shipments

Distribution: IREF Members only | For trade awareness and risk management

Executive Summary

IREF advises members to exercise enhanced commercial caution and undertake independent due diligence in any dealings with ATC Trading SARL (Cotonou, Benin). This advisory is issued following a complaint from member exporters Manek Rathi Agro Products and Raviraj Rice Industry (the “Complainant Exporters”) alleging non-payment of USD 95,403 relating to 30 FCL rice shipments, despite delivery of cargo and no evidence placed before IREF indicating fault on the part of the exporters.

Key Details (as reported to IREF)

Advisory

This advisory is issued by the Indian Rice Exporters Federation (IREF) in exercise of its mandate to promote responsible trade practices and safeguard the collective interests of its members.

Factual narration: A formal request dated 17.10.2025 was received by the Indian Rice Exporters Federation (IREF) from its member exporters, Manek Rathi Agro Products and Raviraj Rice Industry, alleging payment default by ATC Trading SARL, Cotonou (Benin), in respect of confirmed rice export contracts involving 30 FCL shipments, with an outstanding amount of USD 95,403 remaining unpaid despite delivery of cargo, repeated follow-ups, and a revised payment arrangement agreed in April 2025 that was not honoured. Pursuant thereto, IREF’s Dispute Resolution & Advisory (DRA) Wing issued a Notice of Conciliation dated 03.11.2025 to ATC Trading SARL, inviting participation in a voluntary, confidential, and non-binding conciliation/advisory process under IREF’s prescribed framework; although ATC Trading SARL acknowledged receipt on 08.11.2025 and communicated certain preliminary observations, it did not confirm participation, submit the requisite documentation, or complete the procedural formalities within the stipulated timelines, despite clarifications issued by the DRA Wing, and no further response or participation was received after 18.11.2025. It is further noted, without prejudice, that no similar grievance of this nature had been brought to the notice of IREF by any other member exporters in respect of the said buyer during the relevant period.

The Dispute Resolution & Advisory (DRA) Wing of IREF, in line with its prescribed framework, offered ATC Trading SARL, Cotonou (Benin), an opportunity to participate in a voluntary, confidential, and non-binding conciliation/advisory process initiated based on a formal request from members. However, ATC Trading SARL did not engage with the process in a manner aligned with its objectives and did not provide substantive cooperation, which, when viewed as a whole, reflected a lack of demonstrated willingness to pursue an amicable or structured resolution through the IREF mechanism. Accordingly, and solely for institutional record and member trade awareness, the DRA Wing has recorded an Adverse Inference in respect of ATC Trading SARL and advises members to exercise enhanced commercial caution and undertake independent due diligence in any present or prospective dealings with the said entity or any person acting on its behalf, it being expressly clarified that this advisory does not amount to an adjudication, determination of fault, or attribution of legal liability, and is issued without prejudice to the rights, defences, or remedies available to any party under applicable law.

The purpose of this advisory is limited to promoting informed decision-making and trade discipline among IREF members.

This advisory is based on the information and material available with IREF as on the date of issuance and is subject to review, modification, or withdrawal, in whole or in part, in the event of receipt of updated information, clarifications, or substantiated representations from any of the concerned parties.