Basmati Rice to Saudi Arabia at a glance
- Trade agreement
- No bilateral FTA. India–GCC FTA: terms of reference finalised, negotiations ongoing [S7]. Saudi applies GCC common external tariff (5% most goods)
The Saudi Arabia market for Indian basmati rice
Saudi Arabia is one of the largest destinations for India's basmati rice exports: about US$1,203.7 mn in FY2024-25, derived from the destination share in the official export data.
Saudi Arabia: the importer registers the establishment and each product on SFDA's Ghad platform; FASAH clearance needs certificate of origin, invoice showing batch and expiry, health/phytosanitary certificate as applicable; Arabic labelling per SFDA.FD/GSO 9. Saudi Arabia is India's largest basmati market (20.25% share FY2024-25, APEDA); sella and steam 1121 dominate. UAE buyers re-export to the wider region.
Indian community in Saudi Arabia (Ministry of External Affairs estimate): 2,750,551 (NRI 2,747,551 + PIO 3,000) — largest NRI population worldwide.
Basmati Rice specification for Saudi Arabia orders
| Parameter | Typical export value |
|---|---|
| Average grain length (raw, 1121) | 8.30-8.40 mm (typical commercial); FSSAI basmati identity standard minimum 6.61 mm |
| Average grain length (1509 / Pusa / traditional) | 7.8-8.2 mm / 7.0-7.5 mm / 6.8-7.2 mm (typical) |
| Elongation ratio on cooking | about 2.0 or more for 1121 (typical); FSSAI minimum 1.7 |
| Moisture | ≤ 12.5-13% (typical) |
| Broken grains | ≤ 1-2% for premium grades; 5% for economy grades (typical) |
| Purity (varietal admixture) | ≥ 95% by DNA/visual test (typical buyer requirement) |
Final values are agreed per contract and checked against the Saudi Arabia requirements below, then confirmed by lab report or pre-shipment inspection.
Import requirements in Saudi Arabia
| Requirement | Regulator | Document / registration |
|---|---|---|
| Importer & product registration | SFDA | Ghad establishment registration (5 yrs) + product registration |
| Clearance documents | SFDA via FASAH | CoO, invoice (qty, expiry, batch), B/L, health cert, phytosanitary cert, halal cert, import permit (poultry/fish/eggs) |
| Arabic labelling | SFDA | SFDA.FD/GSO 9; GSO 150-1 expiry; SFDA.FD 2233 nutrition |
General guidance as of November 2026. Confirm with your customs broker or the regulator before shipping. Final regulatory decisions require professional verification.
Shipping basmati rice to Saudi Arabia
Typical sea transit Jawaharlal Nehru Port (Nhava Sheva) → Dammam: 6-10 days. Often via Jebel Ali transhipment; FASAH/SABER docs must be in place before arrival
Supply window: Indian basmati rice is mainly produced or harvested Paddy harvest Oct-Nov; new-crop shipments Nov-Mar (ASSUMPTION - general crop calendar); Kharif harvest Oct-Dec; rabi Mar-May (ASSUMPTION). Allow 6-10 days at sea plus 5–10 days for inspection, export clearance and Saudi Arabia customs when you set delivery dates.
Container loading (estimate): 20' about 24-26 MT in 25-50 kg bags, 40' HC about 26-27 MT (weight-limited); about 20-22 MT palletised 1 kg retail.
Quoted on FOB, CFR, CIF, FCA; CIF Dammam is the common choice for first orders.
Where buyers are in Saudi Arabia
| City | Port / airport | Buyer sectors |
|---|---|---|
| Riyadh | Inland; King Abdulaziz Port Dammam (east) / Jeddah Islamic Port (west); Riyadh Dry Port ra | HORECA, Indian/South Asian grocery chains, textile & garment wholesalers |
| Jeddah | Jeddah Islamic Port (Red Sea); King Abdullah Port (Rabigh, ~100 km N) · King Abdulaziz Int | pilgrim HORECA & catering, rice/spice importers, Red Sea importers/distributors |
| Mecca | Inland (~80 km); Jeddah Islamic Port · King Abdulaziz International Jeddah (JED) | pilgrim hotels & catering (rice, dates/food retail, pulses |
| Medina | Inland; Yanbu Commercial Port (~220 km W) / Jeddah Islamic Port · Prince Mohammad bin Abdu | pilgrim hotels & catering, date packers (packaging), prayer textiles |
| Dammam | King Abdulaziz Port, Dammam (Arabian Gulf; largest Saudi Gulf-coast port) · King Fahd Inte | HORECA, Indian grocery/food distributors, oil & gas contractors (industrial supplies |
| Jubail | Jubail Commercial Port & King Fahd Industrial Port · King Fahd International Dammam (DMM) | industrial canteens/HORECA, petrochemical plant contractors & MRO suppliers, industrial chemicals/catalysts |
Frequently asked questions
What do I need to import basmati rice into Saudi Arabia?
Key requirements: Importer & product registration — SFDA (Ghad establishment registration (5 yrs) + product registration); Clearance documents — SFDA via FASAH (CoO, invoice (qty, expiry, batch), B/L, health cert, phytosanitary cert, halal cert, import permit (poultry/fish/eggs)); Arabic labelling — SFDA (SFDA.FD/GSO 9; GSO 150-1 expiry; SFDA.FD 2233 nutrition). Your customs broker confirms the full list for your HS line.
How long does shipping from India to Saudi Arabia take?
Typically 6-10 days port-to-port from Jawaharlal Nehru Port (Nhava Sheva) to Dammam, plus 5–10 days for stuffing, export clearance and destination clearance (estimates).
Does Saudi Arabia have a trade agreement with India?
No bilateral FTA. India–GCC FTA: terms of reference finalised, negotiations ongoing [S7]. Saudi applies GCC common external tariff (5% most goods) A preferential certificate of origin is needed to claim any reduced duty.
How much basmati rice does Saudi Arabia buy from India?
India's exports of basmati rice to Saudi Arabia were about US$1,203.7 mn in FY2024-25, derived from the destination share published in India's official export data.
Which HS code applies to basmati rice from India?
Usually HS 100630. Saudi Arabia applies its own national tariff extension to the 6-digit code; confirm the full line with your broker.
What is the difference between 1121 steam, sella and raw basmati?
All three are the same variety processed differently: raw is milled directly, steam rice is steamed before milling, and sella is fully parboiled (soaked, steamed and dried), giving a firmer golden or creamy grain that suits Gulf cooking.
What grain length should I specify for 1121 basmati?
Buyers typically specify an average grain length of 8.30-8.40 mm for premium 1121; the FSSAI basmati identity standard sets a regulatory minimum of 6.61 mm for any basmati.
Can you ship EU-compliant basmati?
EU-grade basmati is sourced from paddy grown under residue-controlled programmes and each lot is tested for tricyclazole (EU MRL 0.01 mg/kg) and other pesticides before shipment.
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