Imports & ExportsStart exporting

Farm produce

Export basmati rice

India’s top agri export by value. Free to export, but every contract must be registered with APEDA first.

Free, with conditionsHS 1006.30
HS code
1006.30
Milled rice. Basmati has its own 8-digit lines (1006 30 12 and 1006 30 92 in the 2026 ITC(HS) list).
Export policy
Free, with conditions
Free, subject to conditions. Each export contract needs a Registration-cum-Allocation Certificate (RCAC) from APEDA. Exports to EU countries, the UK, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland need a Certificate of Inspection from EIC/EIA (DGFT Notification 07/2026-27, 10 Apr 2026). That notification exempted other European countries only until 1 Oct 2026 — confirm the current position on the APEDA DGFT-notifications page.
Registrations
6
IEC, GST and those below
India’s exports, 2025-26
US$ 5.67 bn
to 151 countries

What is exported

Basmati is the long-grain aromatic rice grown in the GI area of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, 30 districts of western Uttar Pradesh and 3 districts of Jammu & Kashmir. India exported 6.52 million tonnes worth US$ 5.67 billion in 2025-26. It ships as raw white, steam and parboiled (sella) rice, mostly in 1–40 kg bags. Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, the UAE, Yemen and the USA are the largest buyers.

Varieties, grades and forms

  • Pusa Basmati 1121Extra-long grain; the main variety for Gulf and Iran buyers, sold raw, steam and sella.
  • Pusa Basmati 1509Short-duration variety; widely traded at a lower price point than 1121.
  • Pusa Basmati 1718 and 1885Newer disease-resistant versions of 1121; buyers treat the grain much like 1121.
  • Traditional basmati (Basmati 370, Type 3)Shorter grain but strong aroma; a small premium segment, mainly for Europe and the UK.
  • Sella (parboiled) and steam basmatiProcessing forms, not varieties: sella stays firm on cooking and is the Gulf favourite.

Where it is grown or made

  • PunjabWhole state is in the basmati GI area; large mills around Amritsar, Tarn Taran and Gurdaspur.
  • HaryanaWhole state is in the GI area; Karnal, Kaithal and Kurukshetra hold many export mills.
  • Uttar Pradesh30 districts of western UP are in the GI area.
  • Jammu & KashmirThree districts: Jammu, Kathua and Samba.
  • Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and DelhiAlso inside the GI area; smaller volumes.

Season

Kharif crop harvested October–November. Mills age the paddy and ship all year; new-crop prices usually settle by December.

Export packing

  • PP or jute bags of 1–40 kg, often the buyer’s own printed brand bags; 5, 10 and 20 kg are common retail sizes.
  • Loaded in 20-ft dry containers lined with kraft paper; fumigation before stuffing.
  • Labels must show crop year, variety and the importer’s details as the destination country requires.

Who buys abroad

  • Importer-distributors in Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq and the UAE who sell under their own brands
  • Supermarket private-label packers in the UK, EU and USA
  • Ethnic Indian and South Asian grocery wholesalers
  • Hotel, restaurant and catering suppliers in the Gulf

The quality buyers ask for

Identity (FSSAI, in force 1 Aug 2023)
Only varieties notified as basmati under the Seeds Act, 1966; natural fragrance, with no artificial colour, polishing agent or added fragrance
Moisture
14% maximum (FSSAI basmati standard)
Grain size and cooking
FSSAI sets average length, length-to-breadth ratio, cooked length and elongation ratio for each type (brown, milled, parboiled); buyers add their own average grain length in the contract
Non-basmati admixture
Limited by the FSSAI standard; variety can be confirmed by a DNA (PCR) test
Broken grains
Set in the contract (whole-grain lots usually allow only a small percentage); broken basmati is sold under the grade names Tibar, Dubar, Mini Dubar, Mogra and Mini Mogra
Pesticide residues
Must meet the destination MRLs; APEDA publishes country-wise rice MRLs, and EU limits for fungicides such as tricyclazole are the hardest to meet

Certificates

  • APEDA RCACRequiredRegistration-cum-Allocation Certificate for every basmati export contract, before shipment.
  • APEDA RCMCRequiredRegistration with APEDA, issued as an RCMC on the DGFT portal. Since 15 Sep 2026, a consignment up to ₹3 lakh FOB can go without it.
  • Phytosanitary certificateRequiredIssued by Plant Quarantine (DPPQS) for each consignment of plant produce, after inspection. Apply on PQMS.
  • EIC Certificate of InspectionRequiredNeeded for rice going to the EU, the UK, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland (DGFT Notification 07/2026-27).
  • SFDA-registered mill (Saudi Arabia)Often askedRice for Saudi Arabia must come from a mill registered with the Saudi Food and Drug Authority.
  • FSSAI licenceRequiredCentral licence from FSSAI for the premises where the food is packed or stored for export. Apply on FoSCoS.
  • ISO 22000 / FSSC 22000Often askedFood-safety management system certification. FSSC 22000 is recognised by GFSI, which large retailers and brand owners look for.
  • BRCGS Food SafetyOften askedGFSI-recognised standard asked for by UK and many EU supermarkets for private-label packing.

Shipping, storage and shelf life

Container load

A 20-ft dry container typically carries about 24–26 tonnes of rice in bags — weight, not space, is the limit.

How it travels

Sea freight, full container load. Gulf ports are about a week from Mundra or Kandla; Europe and the USA take several weeks.

Storage

Dry, cool, pest-free godown on pallets. Line containers with kraft paper and use desiccants against condensation; fumigate before stuffing.

Shelf life

Milled rice keeps well; retail packs typically carry 18–24 months best-before. Buyers prefer aged rice.

What goes on the pack and carton

  • Bulk bags and cartons: product and grade, crop year, lot number, net and gross weight, “Product of India”, exporter name and the buyer’s shipping marks, matching the invoice and packing list exactly.
  • Broken basmati must show its grade name (Tibar, Dubar, Mini Dubar, Mogra or Mini Mogra) prominently; a basmati blend must state the percentage of each rice (FSSAI).
  • Gulf countries: Arabic text (Arabic plus English is normal), production and expiry dates, net weight, country of origin and the importer’s details. Confirm the current rules with your importer.
  • EU retail packs (Regulation 1169/2011): name of the food, ingredients with allergens highlighted, net quantity, best-before date, storage conditions, the EU importer’s name and address, and origin where required — in the language of the country of sale.
  • Lot or batch number on every pack and bag — FSSAI’s Labelling and Display Regulations, 2020 require it, and every importing country uses it to trace and recall.
Where to get it tested

Residue testing: a lab on APEDA’s list of recognised laboratories (apeda.gov.in → Quality → Recognised Organisations) or an NABL-accredited lab with rice residues in its scope (search nabl-india.org). Rice for Europe is inspected by EIC/EIA, which uses its own and EIC-approved labs — contact the nearest EIA office through eicindia.gov.in.

Benefits of exporting this product

Where to register

  • APEDARegistration-cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC) for APEDA-scheduled products. Apply on the DGFT portal after you have your IEC.dgft.gov.in ↗
  • APEDA (RCAC)Register every basmati export contract online and get a Registration-cum-Allocation Certificate (RCAC) before shipment.apeda.gov.in ↗
  • Export Inspection Council (EIC)Certificate of Inspection for rice going to the EU, the UK, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.eicindia.gov.in ↗
  • Plant Quarantine (DPPQS)Phytosanitary certificate for each consignment of plant produce, applied for online on PQMS. Some markets also need the farm, packhouse or mill to be registered with Plant Quarantine.pqms.cgg.gov.in ↗

Quality and checks

  • Pesticide residues against the buyer country’s MRLs. APEDA publishes country-wise rice MRLs; the EU limit for tricyclazole and other fungicides is the usual cause of rejections.
  • Saudi Arabia: rice must come from a mill registered with SFDA (ISO 22000 / HACCP). A merchant exporter must submit a certificate from the registered mill.
  • USA and China: only from rice mills registered with Plant Quarantine (DPPQS), following its SOP.
  • Grain length, purity (no non-basmati mixing) and moisture, usually tested by an independent surveyor at loading.
How to start small

Do not try to mill. Buy packed basmati from a mill that is already SFDA-registered or DPPQS-registered for your target market, and start with one 20-ft container to a Gulf buyer on advance payment or LC. Register the contract with APEDA for the RCAC before booking the ship. Since 15 September 2026, a consignment worth up to ₹3 lakh FOB does not need an RCMC (DGFT Notification 36/2026-27). Registrations that a law requires for the product still apply.

Where new exporters go wrong

  • Shipping to the EU or UK without checking residues lot by lot — one high tricyclazole result means a border rejection and an alert against your name.
  • Signing the sale and loading before the RCAC is issued. Customs will not clear basmati without it.
  • Buying from an unregistered mill for Saudi Arabia, the USA or China — the consignment is refused at destination.

Documents this product needs

Schemes that apply

Sources (6)
  1. APEDA — Basmati Rice profile (exports and destinations 2025-26)
  2. APEDA — Requirements for export of rice
  3. DGFT Notification 07/2026-27 (10 Apr 2026) — EIC inspection condition for rice to Europe
  4. APEDA — Residue levels (MRLs) for rice
  5. APEDA — Register as exporter (RCMC is issued on the DGFT portal)
  6. DGFT Notification 36/2026-27 (15 Sep 2026) — no RCMC needed for consignments up to ₹3 lakh FOB

Trade data

Indian basmati rice exports in numbers

From the Department of Commerce’s TradeStat, country by country. US$, Indian financial years (April–March).

Exports in 2025-26
US$ 5.67 bn
+7.1% a year on average, 2020-21 to 2025-26
Change from 2024-25
↓ -4.6%
US$ 5.94 bn → US$ 5.67 bn
Buyer countries
151
Average export price
US$ 0.87
per kg · 6.52 mn tonnes shipped · US$ 0.98 the year before
Saudi Arabia: US$ 943 mnIran: US$ 790 mnIraq: US$ 634 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 464 mnYemen: US$ 323 mnUnited States of America: US$ 286 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 217 mnKuwait: US$ 185 mnJordan: US$ 129 mnOman: US$ 128 mnNetherlands: US$ 113 mnCanada: US$ 101 mnMalaysia: US$ 82.8 mnAustralia: US$ 79 mnQatar: US$ 72.5 mnBelgium: US$ 68.4 mnItaly: US$ 68 mnIsrael: US$ 65.9 mnEgypt: US$ 64.1 mnTürkiye: US$ 63 mnKenya: US$ 61.7 mnNepal: US$ 57.9 mnAlgeria: US$ 52.3 mnBahrain: US$ 42.2 mnMauritius: US$ 37.5 mnSaudi Arabia: US$ 943 mnSaudi ArabiaIran: US$ 790 mnIranIraq: US$ 634 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 464 mnYemen: US$ 323 mnYemenUnited States of America: US$ 286 mnUnited States of AmericaUnited Kingdom: US$ 217 mnUnited KingdomKuwait: US$ 185 mnJordan: US$ 129 mnOman: US$ 128 mnNetherlands: US$ 113 mnCanada: US$ 101 mnMalaysia: US$ 82.8 mnMalaysiaAustralia: US$ 79 mnQatar: US$ 72.5 mnBelgium: US$ 68.4 mnItaly: US$ 68 mnIsrael: US$ 65.9 mnEgypt: US$ 64.1 mnTürkiye: US$ 63 mnKenya: US$ 61.7 mnNepal: US$ 57.9 mnAlgeria: US$ 52.3 mnBahrain: US$ 42.2 mnMauritius: US$ 37.5 mnIndia
Where Indian basmati rice goes — among our 80 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 4.02 bn4.0k2020-212021-22: US$ 3.54 bn3.5k2021-222022-23: US$ 4.79 bn4.8k2022-232023-24: US$ 5.84 bn5.8k2023-242024-25: US$ 5.94 bn5.9k2024-252025-26: US$ 5.67 bn5.7k2025-26
India’s basmati rice exports, year by year · US$ million

The price cycle

India’s average export price per kg each year (total value ÷ total quantity). Highest in 2022-23, lowest in 2020-21 — a 21% swing between them. Keep this swing in mind when you quote.

2020-21: US$ 0.87 per kg0.872021-22: US$ 0.90 per kg2022-23: US$ 1.05 per kg1.052024-25: US$ 0.98 per kg2025-26: US$ 0.87 per kg0.872020-212021-222022-232023-242024-252025-26
Average export price of Indian basmati rice · US$ per kg · dotted = year in between not available

What next: a projection from the trend

The past trend carried forward — not a forecast by any authority. Sudden changes in policy, prices or demand are not in it.

2020-21: US$ 4.02 bn2020-212021-22: US$ 3.54 bn2021-222022-23: US$ 4.79 bn2022-232023-24: US$ 5.84 bn2023-242024-25: US$ 5.94 bn2024-252025-26: US$ 5.67 bn2025-262026-27: US$ 6.9 bn (US$ 5.82 bn – US$ 8.19 bn)6.9k2026-272027-28: US$ 7.63 bn (US$ 6.3 bn – US$ 9.23 bn)7.6k2027-28
India’s basmati rice exports and projection · hollow bars = projection, line = likely range
By 2027-28: US$ 7.63 bn

Likely range US$ 6.3 bn to US$ 9.23 bn.

Trend
+10.5% a year
Fit (R²)
0.73
Based on
6 years of official figures

Method: a straight line through the logarithm of yearly exports (log-linear regression); range = ±1 standard error.

Biggest buyer countries

By value in 2025-26. Change is against 2024-25.

Name2025-26Change
1Saudi ArabiaUS$ 943 mn-21.7%
2IranUS$ 790 mn+4.9%
3IraqUS$ 634 mn-25.4%
4United Arab EmiratesUS$ 464 mn+27.3%
5YemenUS$ 323 mn-9.8%
6United States of AmericaUS$ 286 mn-15.2%
7United KingdomUS$ 217 mn+13.4%
8KuwaitUS$ 185 mn+2.4%
9JordanUS$ 129 mn+28.3%
10OmanUS$ 128 mn-11.8%
11NetherlandsUS$ 113 mn+44.1%
12CanadaUS$ 101 mn+6.9%

Where demand is rising and falling

Only countries that buy at least US$ 1 million or 1% of India’s exports of this product. Change from 2024-25 to 2025-26.

High demand

  1. BelgiumUS$ 21.3 mn → US$ 68.4 mn+220.6%
  2. ItalyUS$ 38.6 mn → US$ 68 mn+76.1%
  3. NetherlandsUS$ 78.2 mn → US$ 113 mn+44.1%
  4. JordanUS$ 101 mn → US$ 129 mn+28.3%
  5. United Arab EmiratesUS$ 365 mn → US$ 464 mn+27.3%
  6. TürkiyeUS$ 50.2 mn → US$ 63 mn+25.4%
  7. MalaysiaUS$ 71.4 mn → US$ 82.8 mn+15.9%
  8. United KingdomUS$ 191 mn → US$ 217 mn+13.4%

Low demand

  1. QatarUS$ 123 mn → US$ 72.5 mn-41%
  2. IsraelUS$ 101 mn → US$ 65.9 mn-34.5%
  3. IraqUS$ 850 mn → US$ 634 mn-25.4%
  4. Saudi ArabiaUS$ 1.2 bn → US$ 943 mn-21.7%
  5. United States of AmericaUS$ 337 mn → US$ 286 mn-15.2%
  6. OmanUS$ 145 mn → US$ 128 mn-11.8%
  7. EgyptUS$ 72 mn → US$ 64.1 mn-11%

Which forms sell, and at what price

India’s exports by 8-digit tariff line, 2025-26. Average price = total value ÷ total quantity (TradeStat): the average of every shipment on that line, not the price of any one deal.

Tariff lineValue 2025-26ChangeQuantityAverage price
Cereals, rice, semi-milled or wholly milled, whether or not polished or glazed — basmati rice1006 30 92US$ 2.86 bn—3.14 mn tonnesUS$ 0.91 per kg
Cereals, rice, semi-milled or wholly milled, whether or not polished or glazed — parboiled basmati rice1006 30 12US$ 2.81 bn—3.38 mn tonnesUS$ 0.83 per kg
Cereals, rice, semi-milled or wholly milled, whether or not polished or glazed — basmati rice1006 30 20US$ 0-100%——

The world market

Each country’s own recorded exports and imports in UN Comtrade, 2023 (the latest year nearly every country has reported).

World imports
US$ 24.5 bn
2023
India among exporters
#1
of 137 countries
India’s share of world exports
35.4%
US$ 9.91 bn
Left for others to win
US$ 18.1 bn
exported by other countries

Top exporters — your competitors

  1. 1IndiaUS$ 9.91 bn 35.4%
  2. 2ThailandUS$ 4.58 bn 16.3%
  3. 3Viet NamUS$ 4.06 bn 14.5%
  4. 4PakistanUS$ 2.11 bn 7.5%
  5. 5USAUS$ 1.39 bn 5%
  6. 6ItalyUS$ 827 mn 3%
  7. 7ChinaUS$ 771 mn 2.8%
  8. 8CambodiaUS$ 454 mn 1.6%
  9. 9MyanmarUS$ 390 mn 1.4%
  10. 10UruguayUS$ 301 mn 1.1%

Biggest buyers in the world

  1. 1Saudi ArabiaUS$ 1.65 bn 6.8%
  2. 2IndonesiaUS$ 1.6 bn 6.5%
  3. 3PhilippinesUS$ 1.5 bn 6.1%
  4. 4IranUS$ 1.38 bn 5.6%
  5. 5USAUS$ 1.33 bn 5.5%
  6. 6ChinaUS$ 1.04 bn 4.2%
  7. 7MalaysiaUS$ 816 mn 3.3%
  8. 8JapanUS$ 737 mn 3%
  9. 9BeninUS$ 638 mn 2.6%
  10. 10United Arab EmiratesUS$ 630 mn 2.6%

Opportunity: what these countries buy from the world, and from India

Each country’s own recorded imports in UN Comtrade, latest year it has reported. The long light part of each bar is demand other countries are filling today.

IndonesiaUS$ 2.44 bnIndia 1.2% · gap US$ 2.41 bn
United States of AmericaUS$ 1.51 bnIndia 27% · gap US$ 1.11 bn
MalaysiaUS$ 1.09 bnIndia 20.7% · gap US$ 866 mn
JapanUS$ 613 mnIndia 0.7% · gap US$ 609 mn
ChinaUS$ 630 mnIndia 4.8% · gap US$ 600 mn
IranUS$ 1.38 bnIndia 59.8% · gap US$ 556 mn
South AfricaUS$ 641 mnIndia 19.9% · gap US$ 513 mn
Saudi ArabiaUS$ 1.98 bnIndia 75.5% · gap US$ 485 mn
FranceUS$ 509 mnIndia 5.5% · gap US$ 481 mn
GermanyUS$ 451 mnIndia 10.6% · gap US$ 403 mn

World import figures are for all milled rice (HS 100630); basmati has no separate international code. TradeStat’s 2023-24 quantities are double-counted, so that year is left out of the price. Sources: TradeStat — Export Import Data Bank, Department of Commerce · UN Comtrade database (United Nations Statistics Division) · Figures taken 29 October 2026.

Step by step

How to export basmati rice

Basmati is a geographical-origin rice: only India and Pakistan grow it, so the real competition is Pakistan, with Thai jasmine and other long-grain aromatic rice as substitutes. APEDA’s figures put India far ahead in volume. Demand is steady because basmati is the daily rice of Gulf, Iranian and Iraqi households and of the South Asian diaspora. The openings for a newcomer are residue-compliant rice for the EU and UK, retail packs under the importer’s brand, and brown, organic and traditional basmati for premium shelves.

  1. 01Pick the market and the mill

    Decide the destination first: Saudi Arabia needs an SFDA-registered mill, the USA and China need a DPPQS-registered mill, and Europe needs EIC inspection. Then pick a mill that already meets that rule.

  2. 02Agree the specification and sample

    Send a sealed sample and agree variety, form (raw, steam, sella), average grain length, broken percentage, moisture, crop year and bag size in writing.

  3. 03Register the contract (RCAC)

    Register the signed contract with APEDA online and get the RCAC before you book the vessel.

  4. 04Test residues lot by lot

    Draw samples from the packed lot and test pesticide residues against the buyer country’s MRLs. For Europe, arrange EIC inspection in time.

  5. 05Fumigate, stuff and survey

    Fumigate, stuff the container with an independent surveyor present if the buyer asks, and get the weight and quality survey report.

  6. 06Customs and certificates

    File the shipping bill with the RCAC, then get the phytosanitary certificate, certificate of origin and bill of lading.

  7. 07Get paid and close the file

    Send the original documents through your bank (or to the buyer if paid in advance). Once the money arrives, get the e-BRC and claim RoDTEP and drawback where they apply.

Meet buyers

Trade fairs

Questions

Questions about exporting basmati rice

Is Pusa 1121 legally basmati?
Under the FSSAI standard, basmati means varieties notified as basmati under the Seeds Act, 1966. Check that the variety you buy is on that notified list; Pusa Basmati 1121 is the main traded one.
Can I mix basmati with cheaper rice?
Not if you sell it as basmati. A blend must be labelled as a blend with the percentage of each rice, and buyers often run DNA tests.
Why are shipments to Europe rejected?
Mostly for pesticide residues above EU limits, especially fungicides such as tricyclazole. Buy from farmers or mills running a residue-control programme and test every lot.
Should I offer sella or raw basmati?
Gulf and Iraqi buyers mostly take sella (parboiled), which stays firm on cooking. European and US retail buyers often prefer raw white or steam. Ask the buyer before you book milling.
Can I ship before the RCAC is issued?
No. Customs will not clear basmati without a valid RCAC for the contract.
Sources (8)
  1. PIB — FSSAI notifies regulatory standards for basmati rice, enforced from 1 Aug 2023 (12 Jan 2023)
  2. APEDA — Basmati Rice profile
  3. APEDA — Requirements for export of rice
  4. APEDA — Residue levels (MRLs) for rice
  5. DGFT Notification 07/2026-27 (10 Apr 2026) — EIC inspection for rice to Europe
  6. APEDA — Recognised organisations (list of recognised laboratories, FSMS bodies)
  7. Export Inspection Council of India (EIC)
  8. FSSAI — Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020 (compendium)

Who buys Indian basmati rice

All countries →

More in farm produce

All products →