India's Basmati Rice Exports on the Brink Amid Rising Middle East Tensions
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Rice exports from India are under threat due to escalating military tensions in West Asia, with exporters flagging concerns about payment delays and shipping disruptions to Iran, Afghanistan, and several other Gulf countries.
The Indian Rice Exporters Federation (IREF) has advised its members to avoid entering into new 'cost, insurance and freight' (CIF) commitments to Iran and Gulf destinations, citing the risk of prolonged instability.
Basmati rice is the most vulnerable segment, with India being the world's leading exporter of the cereal grain, commanding over 70% of global production.
India exported around six million tonnes of basmati rice, worth nearly ₹50,000 crore, in 2024-2025, with demand primarily driven by West Asian countries.
Punjab and Haryana are among the states to be hit the hardest, with the two states contributing nearly 75% of the total premium aromatic basmati grain exports.
