India's 2025 rice exports rise near record after curbs lifted

India's rice exports climbed 19.4% in 2025 to 21.55 million metric tons after New Delhi removed export curbs, with non-basmati and basmati shipments both increasing.

India's rice exports increased sharply in 2025 after New Delhi lifted all export curbs. Government and industry officials told Reuters that shipments rebounded as supplies improved following record production. Exports reached 21.55 million metric tons, up 19.4% from 2024 and close to the 2022 record. Officials said both non-basmati and basmati shipments rose during the year. Key facts: - Exports rose 19.4% to 21.55 million metric tons in 2025, near the 2022 record of 22.3 million metric tons. - Non-basmati shipments jumped 25% to 15.15 million metric tons, while basmati exports increased 8% to a record 6.4 million metric tons. - The government removed the final export restrictions in March after supplies improved with record production; earlier curbs were imposed in 2022 and 2023. - Improved Indian shipments reduced flows from rivals such as Thailand and Vietnam and pushed Asian prices to their lowest in nearly a decade, easing costs for some consumers in Africa and other regions, the article reports. - Non-basmati exports rose sharply to Bangladesh, Benin, Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Djibouti, and Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Britain increased purchases of premium basmati rice. - Nitin Gupta, senior vice president at Olam Agri India, is quoted saying Indian rice is competitive and that lower prices helped India regain lost market share, according to the article. Summary: The article reports that lifting export curbs and record production helped drive a near-record rise in Indian rice shipments and contributed to lower regional prices. Undetermined at this time.