We focus on grains and food industry.
We focus on grains and food industry.
We focus on grains and food industry.
We focus on grains and food industry.
We focus on grains and food industry.
We focus on grains and food industry.
We focus on grains and food industry.
We focus on grains and food industry. current time
India’s Rice Export Push Shifts from Volume to Variety
India’s rice exports to 26 priority markets showed modest but encouraging improvement in the five months after the 2025 Bharat International Rice Conference (BIRC), strengthening the case for a more market-specific export strategy. Between November 2025 and March 2026, shipments to these destinations reached ₹23,476 crore, covering 4.79 million tonnes of Basmati and non-Basmati rice.
An Indian Rice Exporters Federation analysis of Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics data found export value was 1.1 per cent above the average recorded during the same period over the previous three years, while volume was 5.6 per cent higher. Eleven of the 26 markets registered growth in both value and volume.
The United Arab Emirates emerged as the strongest performer, with export value rising 65 per cent and volume 64 per cent. Belgium, Germany, France and the UK also recorded substantial gains. Shipments to South Africa and Kenya increased strongly, while Mexico stood out for a 50.9 per cent jump in volume despite a smaller 22.1 per cent increase in value. The Netherlands, Canada and Senegal also registered growth.
The divergence between volume and value across several markets highlights an important shift in India’s export approach. Increasing shipments alone may not guarantee better returns. Product selection, pricing, quality and suitability for local cooking practices are becoming increasingly important as India attempts to build more durable overseas demand.
The industry is consequently looking beyond rice as a standard commodity and promoting specific Indian varieties according to their cooking characteristics. Aroma, grain length, texture, starch content and absorption are being matched with dishes familiar to consumers in different countries. The approach is intended to give overseas buyers a clearer reason to choose a particular Indian variety rather than treating rice as an interchangeable product.
BIRC 2026, scheduled for October 23-25 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, will expand this culinary-led strategy. A Global Rice Festival curated by ITC Hotels will feature international dishes and Indian biryanis, pairing different preparations with suitable Indian rice varieties. The programme will also include chef competitions, influencer activities, public tastings and industry interactions.
Early trade figures provide some support for the strategy, but they do not establish that the conference itself caused the export growth. Prices, inventories, currencies, import regulations, freight costs and demand conditions also influence trade flows.
The real measure of success will therefore be sustained orders and repeat demand. If India can convert culinary suitability into consistent commercial purchases, its large portfolio of rice varieties could help move exports from volume-driven competition towards differentiated, application-based markets.
