1 Dec 2025
India’s rice exports are poised to increase by more than 10% in FY26, driven by robust international demand, according to Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) Chairman Abhishek Dev.
In FY 2024–25, India exported 20.1 million tonnes of rice worth USD 12.95 billion to over 172 countries, reinforcing its position as one of the world’s leading rice exporters. APEDA, an agency under the Ministry of Commerce, oversees and promotes India's agricultural exports.
“Rice exports will rise this fiscal. We anticipate double-digit growth in volume terms,” Dev said, speaking to PTI on the sidelines of the Bharat International Rice Conference (BIRC) 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. He added that export values are also expected to increase.
The two-day global conference, organized by the Indian Rice Exporters’ Federation (IREF) with non-financial support from APEDA, aims to strengthen India’s presence in global rice markets. Dev emphasized the importance of diversifying exports across more rice varieties and increasing shipments of value-added rice-based products such as rice crackers.
The government has identified 26 priority markets—including Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Vietnam, Japan, Mexico, and China—where Indian rice has significant untapped potential. “We are sending trade delegations to these countries to promote India’s diverse rice varieties,” Dev said.
IREF National President Prem Garg highlighted that representatives from all 26 targeted markets are attending BIRC 2025, where India is showcasing a wide range of rice types. The conference has drawn nearly 10,000 participants, including producers, exporters, importers, policymakers, researchers, financial institutions, and logistics providers.
Rice exports recorded strong momentum in 2024, rising 33.18% in September to USD 925 million. Shipments between April and September increased by 10% to USD 5.63 billion.
India produced approximately 150 million tonnes of rice in 2024-25 from nearly 47 million hectares, contributing about 28% of global rice output. Average yields have also risen significantly—from 2.72 tonnes per hectare in 2014-15 to 3.2 tonnes per hectare in 2024-25—supported by improved seed varieties, better agronomic practices, and wider irrigation coverage.