India is the world's largest exporter of aromatic, premium basmati rice, with buyers in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates, accounting for more than half of its shipments. ADVERTISEMENT"Around 200,000 tons of basmati rice are stuck in transit, and an equal amount is stranded at Indian ports as the war has disrupted shipping routes across the Middle East," said Satish Goel, president of the All India Rice Exporters' Association (AIREA). Exporters are not taking new orders from the Middle East as they prioritise shipments under existing contracts, said a New Delhi-based dealer with a global trading house. Basmati rice commands a premium in global markets. "Basmati rice is a staple in the Middle East, and there's really no substitute for Indian supplies," said a Mumbai-based trader.

Source: The Telegraph March 03, 2026 09:44 UTC