Opportunities in Rice Exports.

India has announced an ambitious plan to unlock ₹1.80 lakh crore worth of opportunities in new global rice export markets through the upcoming Bharat International Rice Conference (BIRC) 2025, scheduled for October 30–31 in New Delhi.​

Overview of the Initiative
The initiative, spearheaded by the Indian Rice Exporters Federation (IREF) and the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), seeks to expand India’s dominance in global rice trade, currently accounting for about 30–40% of world exports. At BIRC 2025, exporters are expected to sign Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) worth around ₹25,000 crore to facilitate entry into these new markets.​

India produced approximately 150 million tonnes of rice in FY2024–25 from nearly 47 million hectares, with exports totaling 20.1 million metric tonnes valued at about USD 12.95 billion across 172 countries. The conference aims to further elevate India’s share of global rice exports to 55–60% in the coming years.​

New Target Markets
India has identified 26 potential countries, currently importing rice from competitors like Pakistan and Thailand, as prime expansion targets. These include major markets such as:

Indonesia ($2,586 million)

Philippines ($2,470 million)

Iraq ($1,661 million)

Vietnam ($1,463 million)

USA ($1,194 million)

China ($890 million)

Malaysia, Côte d’Ivoire, Brazil, Japan, Mexico, the UK, Saudi Arabia, and others.​

Additionally, newer African markets—such as Ghana, Gambia, and Liberia—have been highlighted as emerging destinations for both basmati and non-basmati GI rice varieties.​

Strategic Significance
The “₹1.80 lakh crore” target represents the total import value of rice purchased annually by these identified nations from non-Indian suppliers. By capturing a share of these imports, India aims to reinforce its role as a key pillar of global food security while promoting high-value exports.​

The conference will also feature an AI-based rice sorting technology launch, enhancing grain quality control and export competitiveness. The event’s deliberations will feed into a Vision & Roadmap document to guide India’s rice export policy for the next decade.​

Overall, this initiative marks a pivotal step in India’s agricultural diplomacy, aiming to expand its export footprint, modernize post-harvest systems, and capture a major share of the global rice trade landscape.