Overview

• India is projected by the International Grains Council to ship 23.4 million tonnes of rice in 2025–26, accounting for more than one-third of a record 59.9 million tonnes in global trade.
• Global carryover inventories are pegged at an all-time high of 187 million tonnes, and India’s paddy sowing has expanded to 43.85 million hectares, supporting steady export flows.
• Severe floods in Punjab and Haryana hit key basmati areas, yet exporters plan to source more from Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, with industry leaders saying national output should hold up.
• Shipments are being buoyed by strong demand from Africa and recovering orders from Pacific Asia, with India supplying premium basmati to West Asia and Europe and parboiled non-basmati to African buyers.
• India exported 19.86 million tonnes in FY25 versus 16.35 million tonnes in FY24, and Airea projects basmati exports at 6.5 million tonnes this fiscal as the IGC filing goes to the WTO Committee on Agriculture.