Overseas demand is likely to increase India’s rice exports in volume in this fiscal, said chairman of Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), Abhishek Dev.
Speaking on the sidelines of Bharat International Rice Conference (BIRC) 2025, a two-day global rice conference being held in New Delhi, Dev said India is focused on increasing its exports in the coming years and expects higher exports demand, leading to an increase in the country’s exports by volume by more than 10 per cent.
“Rice exports will increase this fiscal. We are expecting double-digit growth in volume terms,” Dev said, adding that exports would grow in terms of value as well.
India is one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of rice, supplying to over 172 countries.
In the 2024-25 fiscal, India exported 20.1 million tonnes of rice valued at USD 12.95 billion, reachin1g more than 172 countries. Rice exports in September rose by 33.18 per cent to USD 925 million, and during April-September by 10 per cent to USD 5.63 billion.
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India produced around 150 million tonnes of rice in 2024-25 from nearly 47 million hectares, accounting for about 28 per cent of global output.
APEDA is an arm of the commerce ministry, dealing with issues related to the country’s agri exports. It is providing non-financial support to BIRC 2025, which is being organised by the Indian Rice Exporters’ Federation (IREF).
Stressing on the need to increase exports of different varieties of rice as well as rice-based processed products like rice crackers, the APEDA Chairman said that the government has identified 26 countries that have the potential to buy rice in larger volumes from India, but are currently buying the grain in small quantities.
“There is a huge potential for exports in these identified 26 countries, including the Philippines”, he said, adding that the government is sending a delegation to the countries to promote Indian rice varieties.
IREF National President, Prem Garg, also said trade representatives from these 26 countries have also been invited to this conference, almost 10,000 of them, where India is showcasing different varieties of rice.
The conference brings together producers, exporters, importers, policymakers, financiers, logisticians, research institutions, and allied service providers.
Average yields of rice have improved from 2.72 tonnes per hectare in 2014-15 to about 3.2 tonnes per hectare in 2024-25, driven by improved seed varieties, better agronomic practices, and expanded irrigation coverage.
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