India's January to June rice exports climb 5% as non-basmati shipments rise, sources say

MUMBAI: India’s rice exports rose 5% in the first half of 2026 from a year earlier, as higher shipments of non-basmati rice offset a drop in basmati exports after the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran disrupted trade with key Gulf markets, two government officials said.

India, which accounts for more than 40% of world rice exports, usually ships more than the combined exports of the next three biggest suppliers — Thailand, Vietnam and Pakistan.

The increase in exports is likely to keep a lid on global rice prices despite concerns that the El Nino weather pattern could hurt production, while ensuring affordable supplies for price-sensitive buyers in Africa and Asia.

India’s rice exports during January to June rose to 12.27 million metric tons from 11.68 million tons in the same period a year ago, the officials said on Tuesday. They declined to be named because they were not authorised to speak to the media.

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Ample supplies make Indian rice cheaper

Exports of basmati rice fell 5.5% during the period to 3.36 million tons, as shipments to markets including Iran declined. Non-basmati rice exports jumped 9.6% to 8.9 million tons on higher demand from African countries.

Ample supplies have made Indian rice significantly cheaper than rice from other major exporters such as Thailand, Vietnam and Myanmar, said Mukesh Jain, an exporter based at Raipur in the central state of Chhattisgarh.

India mainly ships non-basmati rice to markets such as Bangladesh, Benin, Ivory Coast, Guinea and Cameroon, while its premium basmati rice predominantly goes to buyers in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran and the United Arab Emirates.

India’s corn exports surged 400% in the first half of 2026 from a year earlier to 1.42 million tons, as record production lowered domestic prices and boosted demand from Vietnam, Bangladesh and Malaysia.

Wheat exports in the first half rose to 161,187 tons from 1,463 tons as Nepal started buying the grain after New Delhi lifted restrictions on exports.