India’s Rice Exports To 26 Priority Markets Rise Above 3-Year Average: IREF

New Delhi, Aug 27 (KNN) India’s rice exports to 26 priority markets exceeded their three-year average in the five months following the 2025 Bharat International Rice Conference, indicating early traction for efforts to diversify overseas demand by matching Indian rice varieties with local cuisines.

According to an Indian Rice Exporters Federation (IREF) analysis of Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics data, exports to the 26-market basket totalled Rs 23,476 crore and 4.79 million tonnes between November 2025 and March 2026, PTI reported.

Export value was 1.1 per cent above the average for the corresponding period of the previous three years, while volume was 5.6 per cent higher. Eleven of the 26 markets recorded year-on-year growth in both value and volume.

UAE, Europe and Emerging Markets Lead Growth

The United Arab Emirates recorded the strongest increase, with rice export value rising 65 per cent year-on-year to Rs 3,859.04 crore and volume increasing 64 per cent.

Belgium followed with growth of 53.8 per cent in value and 44.5 per cent in volume, while Germany recorded increases of 33.5 per cent and 24.6 per cent, respectively. France saw export value and volume rise 31.3 per cent and 32.9 per cent, while shipments to the UK increased 26.9 per cent in value and 25.6 per cent in volume.

Exports to South Africa increased 26 per cent in value and 42.9 per cent in volume, while Kenya recorded respective growth of 22.3 per cent and 34.1 per cent. Mexico posted a 22.1 per cent rise in value and a 50.9 per cent increase in volume.

Shift Towards Cuisine-Specific Exports

The data comes as India seeks to move beyond treating rice primarily as a commodity and promote specific varieties based on their suitability for local dishes.

The strategy focuses on factors such as aroma, texture, starch content, grain length, absorption and cooking performance. The aim is to reduce uncertainty for overseas buyers by demonstrating how Indian varieties can be used in familiar cuisines.

The approach will be expanded at the Bharat International Rice Conference 2026, scheduled to be held from October 23-25 in New Delhi. The event will feature international and regional rice dishes paired with selected Indian varieties.

Trade Growth Still Needs Sustained Demand

The export data also highlights differences in pricing and product mix. In markets such as Mexico, Kenya and South Africa, volume growth significantly exceeded value growth, suggesting that higher shipments do not necessarily translate into proportionate increases in export earnings.

Exports to the UK, France and Mexico, which were represented in the culinary programme at the 2025 conference, recorded combined growth of 27.2 per cent in value and 26.3 per cent in volume between November 2025 and March 2026. Eight markets, including the UAE, UK, Belgium, Germany, France and Mexico, recorded four-year highs in both value and volume.

However, the data does not establish a direct causal link between the conference and subsequent export growth. Rice trade is influenced by factors including prices, inventories, currency movements, import policies, freight costs and overall demand.

The longer-term test will be whether market-specific promotion leads to repeat orders and sustained demand for individual Indian varieties.

(KNN Bureau)