Civil unrest in Iran has begun affecting India’s basmati rice exports to the country, triggering a sharp fall in domestic prices as exporters grapple with payment delays and growing uncertainty, an industry body said on Tuesday. The Indian Rice Exporters Federation (IREF) has advised exporters to reassess risks linked to Iranian contracts and adopt secured payment mechanisms, cautioning against over-leveraging inventories earmarked for the Iranian market. ADVERTISEMENTTrade data showed that India exported basmati rice worth USD 468.10 to Iran during April–November of the 2025–26 fiscal, amounting to 5.99 lakh tonnes. Iran remains India’s largest destination for basmati rice, but the current financial year has witnessed increasing stress on order flows, payment cycles and shipment schedules due to the prevailing instability. The US is the 10th largest market for Indian rice globally and the fourth largest for basmati rice.

Source: The Telegraph January 13, 2026 08:11 UTC