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Farm produce

Export non-basmati rice

High-volume staple sold mainly to Africa and Bangladesh. Export reopened in 2024–25, but contracts must now be registered with APEDA.

Free, with conditionsHS 1006.30
HS code
1006.30
Milled rice other than basmati (1006 30 11, 1006 30 19, 1006 30 91, 1006 30 99); husked rice is 1006 20 00 and broken rice 1006 40 00.
Export policy
Free, with conditions
Policy has changed many times since 2022. As confirmed: broken rice (1006 40 00) moved from Prohibited to Free on 7 Mar 2025 (DGFT Notification 61/2024-25). Since 24 Sep 2025, non-basmati rice is Free but only after the contract is registered with APEDA (DGFT Notification 33/2025-26). EU/UK/EFTA shipments need an EIC Certificate of Inspection. Policy here can change overnight — confirm on DGFT before signing.
Registrations
5
IEC, GST and those below
India’s exports, 2025-26
US$ 5.86 bn
to 147 countries

What is exported

Non-basmati covers Sona Masuri, Ponni, IR-64, Kolam, parboiled and other varieties. India exported 15.01 million tonnes worth US$ 5.82 billion in 2025-26. Benin, Bangladesh, Guinea, Togo and Côte d’Ivoire were the top buyers. Margins are thin and prices move with government policy, so this is a volume trade.

Varieties, grades and forms

  • IR-64 and Swarna (parboiled)Bulk parboiled rice for West Africa and Bangladesh; sold by broken percentage (5%, 25%).
  • Sona MasuriLight, medium-grain rice from the south; popular with South Indian shoppers in the USA and Gulf.
  • Ponni and KolamRegional table rices sold in retail packs to diaspora grocers.
  • GI aromatic rices (Kalanamak, Gobindobhog, Joha)Small-grain aromatic rices with GI tags; niche premium lots.
  • Broken rice (1006 40 00)For feed, brewing and food processing; its own HS line and policy history.

Where it is grown or made

  • Andhra Pradesh and TelanganaGodavari and Krishna delta mills; Kakinada port handles much of the bulk rice.
  • West BengalBardhaman belt (Gobindobhog GI); mills supplying Bangladesh by land.
  • Chhattisgarh and OdishaLarge parboiling mills supplying African buyers.
  • Uttar PradeshEastern UP, home of Kalanamak rice (GI).
  • Kerala and AssamPalakkadan Matta (Kerala) and Joha rice (Assam) — GI specialities.

Season

Main kharif harvest October–December; some states add a rabi crop in spring. Exports run all year from milled stock.

Export packing

  • 25 kg and 50 kg PP bags for bulk African and Bangladeshi orders.
  • 1–10 kg printed retail bags for diaspora grocers.
  • Bulk vessels or 20-ft containers; fumigation certificate is usually required.

Who buys abroad

  • Government and large private importers in West Africa (Benin, Togo, Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire)
  • Traders in Bangladesh and Nepal buying by land and rail
  • Ethnic grocery distributors in the USA, UK and Gulf
  • Food and feed manufacturers (broken rice)

The quality buyers ask for

Moisture
15% maximum under the Codex rice standard (CXS 198-1995); buyers often ask for 14% or less
Broken percentage
The grade name itself: 5%, 10%, 15% or 25% broken, and 100% broken
Type and process
Raw white, parboiled (sella), steam; long-grain (IR 64 type) or short/medium (Sona Masoori, Ponni)
Defects
Limits on chalky, damaged, discoloured and red-streaked grains, paddy grains and foreign matter, stated in the contract
Milling degree and polish
Well milled, double polished or sortexed, as agreed
Grade standards
AGMARK grade rules for rice and the Non-Basmati Aromatic Rice Grading and Marking Rules, 2024 (DMI)

Certificates

  • APEDA contract registrationRequiredSince 24 Sep 2025, each non-basmati export contract must be registered with APEDA (DGFT Notification 33/2025-26). Confirm current status on APEDA.
  • 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 Inspection (Europe)RequiredFor rice to the EU, the UK, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
  • 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.
  • HalalOften askedAsked for by many buyers in the Gulf, Malaysia and Indonesia, especially for processed and animal-origin foods. Use a body the destination recognises.

Shipping, storage and shelf life

Container load

A 20-ft container typically carries about 25–26 tonnes in 25 or 50 kg bags. Large African and Asian contracts also go as break-bulk in ships’ holds.

How it travels

Sea freight. Kakinada and Visakhapatnam handle much bulk rice; Mundra, Kandla and Chennai ship containers.

Storage

Dry godown on dunnage; fumigate against weevils; keep away from damp walls. Parboiled rice must be dried properly before bagging.

Shelf life

About a year in good storage; insect attack is the main risk.

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.
  • 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

Use a laboratory on APEDA’s list of recognised laboratories (apeda.gov.in → Quality → Recognised Organisations). For any other test, search the NABL directory (nabl-india.org) for a lab accredited for that test, or use an FSSAI-notified lab. Ask the buyer which lab reports they accept before you send samples.

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)Registration of each non-basmati export contract and a Registration-cum-Allocation Certificate (RCAC) before shipment.apeda.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

  • Indonesia: pre-shipment testing at a laboratory approved by the Indonesian Agriculture Quarantine Agency, and the importer needs a quota-based import permit.
  • Russia: pre-shipment quality certificate from an APEDA-authorised laboratory. Iran: pre-shipment inspection.
  • Saudi Arabia, USA and China: rice only from SFDA-registered or DPPQS-registered mills respectively.
  • Broken percentage, moisture and foreign matter as per contract, checked by a surveyor (often SGS or a similar agency named by the buyer).
How to start small

Start with Bangladesh or Nepal, where land routes keep lots small. Exports through non-EDI land customs stations on the Bangladesh and Nepal borders need the quantity registered with the DGFT regional office (Kolkata or Patna). Buy from a mill with a clean testing record and take payment by LC. 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

  • Signing a long forward contract — a sudden ban, duty or minimum export price can make it impossible to deliver.
  • Shipping before the contract is registered with APEDA; the shipping bill will not clear.
  • Accepting open-account terms from new West African buyers. Use LC or confirmed advance payment.

Documents this product needs

Schemes that apply

Sources (6)
  1. APEDA — Non-Basmati Rice profile (exports and destinations 2025-26)
  2. DGFT Notification 33/2025-26 (24 Sep 2025) — APEDA contract registration for non-basmati rice
  3. DGFT Notification 61/2024-25 (7 Mar 2025) — broken rice made Free
  4. DGFT Notification 07/2026-27 (10 Apr 2026) — EIC inspection condition for rice to Europe
  5. APEDA — Requirements for export of rice
  6. DGFT Notification 36/2026-27 (15 Sep 2026) — no RCMC needed for consignments up to ₹3 lakh FOB

Trade data

Indian non-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$ 5.86 bn
+4% a year on average, 2020-21 to 2025-26
Change from 2024-25
↓ -10.2%
US$ 6.53 bn → US$ 5.86 bn
Buyer countries
147
Average export price
—
Bangladesh: US$ 545 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 237 mnKenya: US$ 237 mnNepal: US$ 217 mnVietnam: US$ 194 mnSaudi Arabia: US$ 127 mnMalaysia: US$ 105 mnChina: US$ 104 mnSingapore: US$ 72.2 mnSouth Africa: US$ 56.5 mnBangladesh: US$ 545 mnBangladeshUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 237 mnUnited Arab EmiratesKenya: US$ 237 mnKenyaNepal: US$ 217 mnNepalVietnam: US$ 194 mnVietnamSaudi Arabia: US$ 127 mnMalaysia: US$ 105 mnMalaysiaChina: US$ 104 mnSingapore: US$ 72.2 mnSouth Africa: US$ 56.5 mnIndia
Where Indian non-basmati rice goes — among our 30 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 4.81 bn4.8k2020-212021-22: US$ 6.13 bn6.1k2021-222022-23: US$ 6.36 bn6.4k2022-232023-24: US$ 4.57 bn4.6k2023-242024-25: US$ 6.53 bn6.5k2024-252025-26: US$ 5.86 bn5.9k2025-26
India’s non-basmati rice exports, year by year · US$ million

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$ 4.81 bn2020-212021-22: US$ 6.13 bn2021-222022-23: US$ 6.36 bn2022-232023-24: US$ 4.57 bn2023-242024-25: US$ 6.53 bn2024-252025-26: US$ 5.86 bn2025-262026-27: US$ 6.16 bn (US$ 4.95 bn – US$ 7.67 bn)6.2k2026-272027-28: US$ 6.31 bn (US$ 4.94 bn – US$ 8.06 bn)6.3k2027-28
India’s non-basmati rice exports and projection · hollow bars = projection, line = likely range
By 2027-28: US$ 6.31 bn

Likely range US$ 4.94 bn to US$ 8.06 bn.

Trend
+2.5% a year
Fit (R²)
0.09 — weak, read with care
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
1BeninUS$ 672 mn-34.4%
2BangladeshUS$ 545 mn+51.9%
3GuineaUS$ 388 mn-27.7%
4TogoUS$ 386 mn-8.4%
5Côte d’IvoireUS$ 316 mn-39.2%
6SenegalUS$ 257 mn-6.8%
7United Arab EmiratesUS$ 237 mn+67.3%
8KenyaUS$ 237 mn+124.6%
9NepalUS$ 217 mn+19.5%
10SomaliaUS$ 206 mn+6.3%
11VietnamUS$ 194 mn-10.5%
12LiberiaUS$ 158 mn-23.3%

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. MadagascarUS$ 38.2 mn → US$ 105 mn+173.6%
  2. KenyaUS$ 105 mn → US$ 237 mn+124.6%
  3. United Arab EmiratesUS$ 142 mn → US$ 237 mn+67.3%
  4. BangladeshUS$ 359 mn → US$ 545 mn+51.9%
  5. DjiboutiUS$ 75.8 mn → US$ 113 mn+49.4%
  6. ChinaUS$ 79.4 mn → US$ 104 mn+30.8%
  7. NepalUS$ 182 mn → US$ 217 mn+19.5%
  8. MozambiqueUS$ 132 mn → US$ 149 mn+13.2%

Low demand

  1. IndonesiaUS$ 102 mn → US$ 13.9 mn-86.3%
  2. Sri LankaUS$ 88.1 mn → US$ 33.9 mn-61.5%
  3. Sierra LeoneUS$ 196 mn → US$ 88.7 mn-54.7%
  4. AngolaUS$ 129 mn → US$ 78.4 mn-39.4%
  5. Côte d’IvoireUS$ 520 mn → US$ 316 mn-39.2%
  6. BeninUS$ 1.03 bn → US$ 672 mn-34.4%
  7. GuineaUS$ 536 mn → US$ 388 mn-27.7%
  8. RussiaUS$ 63.3 mn → US$ 45.8 mn-27.7%

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 — parboiled other1006 30 19US$ 3.55 bn—9.06 mn tonnesUS$ 0.39 per kg
Others-of-semi/wholly miled rice whether or not polished/glazed1006 30 99 · Cereals, rice, semi-milled or wholly milled, whether or not polished or glazedUS$ 1.65 bn—4.18 mn tonnesUS$ 0.39 per kg
Cereals, rice, broken — broken rice1006 40 00US$ 370 mn+16.5%1.16 mn tonnesUS$ 0.32 per kgwas US$ 0.40
Cereals, rice in the husk — other rice in husk1006 10 90US$ 125 mn-3.4%4,85,343 tonnesUS$ 0.26 per kgwas US$ 0.26
Cereals, rice in the husk — rice in husk of seed qlty1006 10 10US$ 57.8 mn+98.3%21,386 tonnesUS$ 2.70 per kgwas US$ 2.63
Parboiled rice , gi recognised1006 30 11 · Cereals, rice, semi-milled or wholly milled, whether or not polished or glazedUS$ 49.3 mn—67,026 tonnesUS$ 0.74 per kg
Cereals, rice, semi-milled or wholly milled, whether or not polished or glazed — rice, gi recognised1006 30 91US$ 47.3 mn—51,403 tonnesUS$ 0.92 per kg
Cereals, husked rice — husked (brown) rice1006 20 00US$ 10.6 mn-91%20,724 tonnesUS$ 0.51 per kgwas US$ 0.45
Cereals, rice, semi-milled or wholly milled, whether or not polished or glazed — rice parboiled1006 30 10US$ 0-100%——
Rice excptg parboiled (excluding basmati rice)1006 30 90 · Cereals, rice, semi-milled or wholly milled, whether or not polished or glazedUS$ 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$ 31.2 bn
2023
India among exporters
#1
of 146 countries
India’s share of world exports
31%
US$ 10.5 bn
Left for others to win
US$ 23.2 bn
exported by other countries

Top exporters — your competitors

  1. 1IndiaUS$ 10.5 bn 31%
  2. 2ThailandUS$ 5.15 bn 15.3%
  3. 3Viet NamUS$ 4.37 bn 13%
  4. 4PakistanUS$ 2.86 bn 8.5%
  5. 5USAUS$ 2.02 bn 6%
  6. 6ChinaUS$ 984 mn 2.9%
  7. 7ItalyUS$ 947 mn 2.8%
  8. 8CambodiaUS$ 815 mn 2.4%
  9. 9MyanmarUS$ 744 mn 2.2%
  10. 10BrazilUS$ 621 mn 1.8%

Biggest buyers in the world

  1. 1IndonesiaUS$ 1.79 bn 5.7%
  2. 2Saudi ArabiaUS$ 1.68 bn 5.4%
  3. 3PhilippinesUS$ 1.64 bn 5.2%
  4. 4USAUS$ 1.42 bn 4.6%
  5. 5ChinaUS$ 1.41 bn 4.5%
  6. 6IranUS$ 1.38 bn 4.4%
  7. 7Viet NamUS$ 888 mn 2.8%
  8. 8MalaysiaUS$ 819 mn 2.6%
  9. 9United KingdomUS$ 750 mn 2.4%
  10. 10JapanUS$ 744 mn 2.4%

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$ 2.71 bnIndia 4.6% · gap US$ 2.59 bn
United States of AmericaUS$ 1.62 bnIndia 26.1% · gap US$ 1.19 bn
ChinaUS$ 921 mnIndia 3.3% · gap US$ 890 mn
MalaysiaUS$ 1.1 bnIndia 20.7% · gap US$ 870 mn
FranceUS$ 687 mnIndia 4.9% · gap US$ 653 mn
JapanUS$ 627 mnIndia 0.7% · gap US$ 623 mn
South AfricaUS$ 647 mnIndia 19.8% · gap US$ 519 mn
United KingdomUS$ 750 mnIndia 31.5% · gap US$ 514 mn
Saudi ArabiaUS$ 2.01 bnIndia 75.3% · gap US$ 497 mn
GermanyUS$ 555 mnIndia 10.6% · gap US$ 496 mn

All rice (HS 1006) minus basmati lines. 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 non-basmati rice

APEDA describes India as a key player in world rice, and India ships more non-basmati rice than any single rival; Thailand, Vietnam, Pakistan and the USA are the other big origins. Price decides most deals, so the trade moves fast when India changes its export rules. Buyers are governments and large importers in Africa and Asia who need a staple at a steady price, plus ethnic grocery packers. Openings for small exporters lie in speciality rice — Sona Masoori, Ponni, GI rices, red and black rice — and in parboiled rice for West Africa.

  1. 01Check the current policy

    Rice rules have changed often since 2022. Read the latest DGFT notifications on APEDA’s page before quoting a price.

  2. 02Fix the variety and broken grade

    Agree variety, raw or parboiled, broken percentage, moisture, polish and bag type with the buyer, against a sealed sample.

  3. 03Register the contract

    Register the contract with APEDA as the current notification requires, before shipment.

  4. 04Buy from a sortexed mill

    Contract a mill with colour sorters and grading; check its FSSAI licence and, for the USA or China, its DPPQS registration.

  5. 05Pre-shipment inspection

    Most buyers appoint a surveyor to check quality and weight at loading; Europe also needs EIC inspection.

  6. 06Fumigate, ship and certify

    Fumigate, stuff, file the shipping bill, and collect the phytosanitary, fumigation and origin certificates.

  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 non-basmati rice

Is non-basmati rice free to export now?
It is Free subject to contract registration with APEDA (since 24 Sep 2025). Policy changes quickly, so confirm on APEDA’s DGFT-notifications page before each deal.
What does “IR 64, 5% broken” mean?
Long-grain rice of the IR 64 type in which broken grains are no more than 5% by weight. The broken percentage is the main price driver.
Which markets suit a small exporter?
Speciality rice for diaspora grocers in the Gulf, UK, USA and Australia, sold in 5–25 kg bags, is easier than bulk tenders, where large millers compete on cents.
Why is my parboiled rice turning yellow or smelly?
Usually poor drying after parboiling or damp storage. Ask the mill for moisture readings at bagging and store on dunnage.
Do I need EIC inspection for Africa?
The EIC condition in DGFT Notification 07/2026-27 covers Europe. African buyers usually appoint their own surveyor; some countries have their own pre-shipment programmes — ask the buyer.
Sources (6)
  1. APEDA — Non-Basmati Rice profile
  2. DGFT Notification 33/2025-26 (24 Sep 2025) — APEDA contract registration for non-basmati rice
  3. DGFT Notification 07/2026-27 (10 Apr 2026) — EIC inspection for rice to Europe
  4. Codex Alimentarius — list of standards
  5. Directorate of Marketing & Inspection — AGMARK grade standards (commodity-wise rules)
  6. APEDA — Recognised organisations (list of recognised laboratories, FSMS bodies)

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