Bumper Rice Crop To Enable India Export 24 Mn Tons in 2025-26; Target 40% Global Rice Market

New Delhi, May 15 (KNN) India is poised to export approximately 24 million tonnes of rice in the 2025–26 marketing year (October–September), potentially capturing around 40 per cent of global rice trade, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

This optimistic projection is underpinned by India’s substantial foodgrain reserves, estimated at 66.16 million tonnes as of April 27, 2025.

The USDA forecasts India’s rice production in 2025 to reach a record high for the tenth consecutive year, despite a slight decline in harvested area.

Notably, the 2024–25 Kharif season’s rice output was estimated at 121 million tonnes, marking a nearly 7 per cent increase from the previous year.

The USDA’s marketing year spans from October to September, differing from India’s April–March fiscal year. The anticipated surge in exports follows India’s decision to lift rice export restrictions in March 2025, a move aimed at doubling agricultural exports to USD 100 billion by 2030.

India’s re-entry into the global rice market has exerted downward pressure on international prices, benefiting import-dependent regions such as Africa and Southeast Asia.

However, this development has posed challenges for competing exporters like Thailand, Vietnam, and Pakistan, who had temporarily gained market share during India’s export hiatus.

With this projected export volume, India is set to reinforce its position as the world’s leading rice exporter, significantly influencing global rice trade dynamics.

(KNN Bureau)

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