Total exports of the long-grained, aromatic variety of rice stood at 60.65 LMT
Farming Cosmos market report: India’s basmati rice exports were higher by Rs 1,922.75 crore in the 2024-25 fiscal year (April-March) compared with the previous fiscal year, as per the data available with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). The exports of the Indian basmati rice were about 3.97% higher in terms of value in rupees as compared with the previous fiscal, according to the data compiled by the Kolkata-based Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCIS), aided by the strong demand from the Middle East.
According to DGCIS data, India exported basmati rice worth about Rs 50,312.01 crore (nearly $ 5.87 billion) in the 2024-25 fiscal year. In the 2023-24 fiscal year, India exported the commodity worth about Rs 48,389.26 crore (nearly $ 5.74 billion).
The country exported about 60.65 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of basmati rice in 2024-25, about 8.23 LMT (15.7%) more than in 2023-24. According to the DGCIS data, India exported basmati rice to 154 countries in 2024-25, while in the 2023-24 fiscal year, it had sold the commodity to 150 countries.
Saudi Arabia was the biggest importer of Indian basmati rice in quantity at about 11.73 LMT, followed by Iraq and Iran at 9.05 LMT and 8.55 LMT, respectively. These three countries were the top three importers in 2023-24 as well, buying 10.98 LMT, 8.24 LMT and 6.7 LMT of the commodity respectively.
The other importers in the top 10 countries include Yemen Republic (3.92 LMT), the United Arab Emirates (3.89 LMT), the United States of America (2.74 LMT), the United Kingdom (1.80 LMT), Kuwait (1.75 LMT), Oman (1.49 LMT) and Qatar (1.24 LMT).
In terms of rupee value, Saudi Arabia was the biggest buyer, paying Rs 10,190.73 crore for the Indian basmati rice, followed by Iraq (Rs 7,201.23 crore), Iran (Rs 6,374.29 crore), UAE (Rs 3,089.47 crore), Yemen (Rs 3,038.56 crore), and the US (Rs 2,849.16 crore).
Other big importers of Indian basmati rice in terms of value include the UK (Rs 1,613.36 crore), Kuwait (Rs 1,518.8 crore), Oman (Rs 1,223.16 crore) and Qatar (Rs 1,040.1 crore).
INDIA’S EXPORT OF BASMATI RICE IN THE 2024-25 FISCAL YEAR (APRIL-MARCH)
| TOP 10 IMPORTING COUNTRIES | QUANTITY IN METRIC TONNES | VALUE IN RS CRORE | VALUE IN $ BILLION |
| SAUDI ARABIA | 11,73,833.31 | 10,190.73 | 1.2 |
| IRAQ | 9,05,598.90 | 7,201.23 | 0.85 |
| IRAN | 8,55,132.87 | 6,374.29 | 0.75 |
| UNITED ARAB EMIRATES | 3,89,148.26 | 3,089.47 | 0.36 |
| YEMEN REPUBLIC | 3,92,180.74 | 3,038.56 | 0.36 |
| UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | 2,74,213.14 | 2,849.16 | 0.34 |
| UNITED KINGDOM | 1,80,951.39 | 1,613.37 | 0.19 |
| KUWAIT | 1,75,000.19 | 1,518.80 | 0.18 |
| OMAN | 1,49,148.11 | 1,223.16 | 0.14 |
| QATAR | 1,24,557.34 | 1,040.10 | 0.12 |
| OVERALL | 60,65,483.45 | 50,312.01 | 5.87 |
Source: Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCIS), Kolkata
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