Business · India Bureau
India's rice exports to key markets exceed three-year average
India's rice shipments to 26 priority overseas markets have surpassed their three-year average in the first five months of 2026, suggesting that a strategy linking Indian rice varieties to regional cuisines is beginning to pay dividends in diversifying export demand.
LSN India ·
Exports to the basket of 26 target markets totalled Rs 23,476 crore and 4.79 million tonnes between November 2025 and March 2026, according to analysis by the Indian Rice Exporters Federation (IREF) using data from the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics. The figures covered both Basmati and non-Basmati rice varieties.
Export value exceeded the average for the corresponding November-March period across the previous three years by 1.1 per cent, while shipment volumes were 5.6 per cent higher. Among the 26 markets, eleven demonstrated year-on-year growth in both value and volume during the period.
The performance reflects India's efforts to expand its rice export footprint as domestic supplies remain substantial. The strategy hinges on matching specific Indian rice varieties to the culinary preferences of target markets, moving beyond a volume-driven approach to exports. The results from the initial five-month window following the 2025 Bharat International Rice Conference suggest the initiative is gaining traction in diversifying demand across overseas regions.
India remains the world's largest rice exporter, and broadening its market base helps reduce dependence on any single geography while supporting steady domestic farm incomes.