1 Dec 2025
India is poised to strengthen its global leadership in rice exports, setting an ambitious target to capture 55–60% of the world’s rice market, according to Prem Garg, Chairman of Shri Lal Mahal Group and National President of the Indian Rice Exporters Federation (IREF). The upcoming Bharat International Rice Conference (BIRC) 2025, scheduled for October 30–31, is expected to play a pivotal role in advancing this vision and positioning India as the epicenter of the global rice trade.
“Never before has India hosted a rice conference of this scale,” Garg told ANI. “This global event will unite exporters, importers, policymakers, and agri-innovators under one platform to shape the future of the international rice industry.”
India, already the world’s largest rice producer—surpassing China—currently accounts for about 40% of global rice exports, translating to 22 million tonnes annually. The country now aims to boost exports to 28–30 million tonnes, further cementing its dominance in the global market.
The BIRC 2025, organized by the Indian Rice Exporters Federation (IREF) in partnership with the Department of Commerce and the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), will serve as a hub for global engagement and trade development. With participation from nations such as the Philippines, Myanmar, Niger, Comoros, Jordan, Liberia, The Gambia, and Somalia, the event will showcase India’s vast rice diversity and strengthen its international trade relations.
According to IREF, the conference will unlock ₹1.80 lakh crore worth of potential opportunities in untapped rice import markets currently served by India’s competitors. It will also facilitate ₹25,000 crore in export MoUs and trade contracts.
“India’s export strategy now looks beyond traditional markets,” Garg said, adding that Japan, West Africa, South America, and the Middle East have been identified as high-growth destinations. “We are introducing the world to India’s unique range of premium, GI-tagged, and organic rice varieties, which enjoy rising demand globally.”
Globally, rice sustains over four billion people and supports around 150 million smallholder farmers across more than 100 countries. Valued at approximately USD 330 billion, rice is the third most traded food commodity in the world.
n 2024–25, India produced nearly 150 million tonnes of rice from 47 million hectares, accounting for 28% of global output. The country’s productivity has risen from 2.72 tonnes per hectare in 2014–15 to 3.2 tonnes in 2024–25, thanks to improved seed genetics, irrigation systems, mechanization, and farmer support programs.
India’s rice exports in FY 2024–25 reached 20.1 million metric tonnes, valued at around USD 12.95 billion, supplying over 172 countries.
The upcoming BIRC 2025 will also highlight India’s regional diversity in rice cultivation. States such as Jammu & Kashmir, Manipur, Telangana, Odisha, Meghalaya, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, and Haryana will showcase their GI-tagged and specialty varieties, seed and agronomy innovations, processing and storage capabilities, and export-ready FPO and cooperative clusters. The event will further feature segments on organic rice, sustainability initiatives, logistics corridors, investment opportunities, and buyer-seller connect sessions.
By fostering collaboration and innovation, BIRC 2025 is set to establish India as the global hub of rice trade and technology, reinforcing its commitment to ensuring food security, quality, and sustainability in one of the world’s most vital agricultural sectors.