Key facts
- India exported US$5,944 million of basmati rice in FY2024-25 (apeda.gov.in).
- Largest destinations by value: Saudi Arabia 20.25%; Iraq 14.30%; Iran 12.67% (then UAE, Yemen)
- 3 production clusters mapped, in Haryana; Punjab; Uttar Pradesh; Uttarakhand; J&K, Andhra Pradesh; Chhattisgarh; West Bengal; Telangana; Odisha; UP, Maharashtra; Tamil Nadu; Gujarat; West Bengal; Rajasthan.
- Market guides for 20 countries, each with destination requirements and transit times.
- Certifications available from the supply base: FSSAI licence, APEDA RCMC, Phytosanitary certificate, HACCP, ISO 22000 and more.
- Typical minimum order: One 20' container (about 24-26 MT) for bulk; one 40' HC for palletised retail packs (typical).
Product overview
Basmati is a long-grain aromatic rice grown in the GI-registered basmati belt of north India - Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi and Jammu & Kashmir. India is the world's largest basmati exporter: APEDA reports US$ 5,944 million and about 6.07 million tonnes shipped in FY2024-25, with Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, the UAE and Yemen the leading destinations.
Commercial trade is organised by variety (1121, 1509, 1401, 1718, Pusa Basmati 1 and traditional/CSR-30-type basmati) and by process: raw (white), steam and parboiled 'sella' (golden or creamy). 1121 is the volume leader thanks to its exceptional cooked length; 1509 is an earlier-maturing, slightly shorter grain popular as a value option; traditional basmati carries the strongest aroma and commands a premium in Europe and the UK.
Basmati is normally sold by grade specification (average grain length, broken %, moisture, purity) with buyer-specific packing from 1 kg retail bags to 50 kg PP bags. EU and UK buyers buy against strict pesticide-residue specifications, while Gulf buyers focus on grain length, colour and age (aged rice cooks fluffier).
HS note: India's ITC(HS) carries separate 8-digit lines for basmati (e.g. 1006 30 20) and brown basmati under 1006 20; parboiled (sella) basmati is still basmati for policy purposes. Confirm the 8-digit line with your customs broker.
Specifications
| 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) |
| Damaged / discoloured / chalky | ≤ 0.5-1% each (typical) |
| Additives | No artificial colour, polishing agent or artificial fragrance (FSSAI basmati standard, 2023) |
Typical commercial values. Final specifications are fixed per contract and verified by lab report or pre-shipment inspection.
Grades & variants
1121 Steam
Steamed before milling - creamy-white, cooks separate; the main Gulf foodservice grade.
1121 Golden Sella / Creamy Sella
Parboiled; golden or creamy colour, very firm grain - preferred in Saudi Arabia and Iraq for kabsa and biryani.
1121 Raw (White)
Unparboiled, sortex-cleaned; retail and restaurant use in GCC, EU, UK and North America.
1509 (Steam / Sella / Raw)
Shorter crop cycle, slightly shorter grain than 1121; value-for-money long grain.
1401 / Pusa Basmati 1 / 1718
Pusa-family varieties sold where a lower price point is needed; 1718 is a newer blast-resistant 1121 lookalike.
Traditional basmati (CSR-30 / Taraori-type)
Shorter but most aromatic; premium positioning in UK and EU retail.
Aged rice
Stored 6-12 months+ before milling; cooks fluffier and is priced higher (buyer-specified).
Packaging, MOQ & container loading
| Packing | Sizes | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bulk | 25 kg, 40 kg and 50 kg PP woven or non-woven bags | Fumigated container; bag marking per buyer |
| Retail | 1, 2, 5, 10 kg pouches or jute/non-woven bags | Private-label artwork with destination-language labelling |
| Foodservice | 20-40 kg printed bags | Common for GCC HoReCa distributors |
Container load (estimate): 20' GP 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. Derived from ONE container payloads and practical road-weight limits (research/06 E.4)
Customisation: Buyer brand bags and retail pouches, aged rice, custom grain-length blends, nitrogen-flushed retail packs
Where we source in India
Producing regions and manufacturing clusters our supplier network draws from.
Haryana
Karnal, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Panipat
Karnal/Taraori mill belt - largest concentration of basmati export mills
Punjab
Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Gurdaspur, Ferozepur
Major paddy growing and milling belt
Uttar Pradesh
Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Bulandshahr, Aligarh
Western UP basmati GI districts
Uttarakhand
Dehradun, Udham Singh Nagar
Dehradun is the traditional-basmati heritage area
Market requirements by region
European Union
EU: tricyclazole MRL is 0.01 mg/kg (Reg. 2017/983) and buprofezin, isoprothiolane and thiamethoxam MRLs are frequent rejection causes - buy EU-grade paddy and test every lot. India-EU FTA concluded Jan 2026 but not yet in force (reported).
United States & Canada
USA: the packing facility needs FDA Food Facility Registration, every shipment needs FDA Prior Notice, and the US importer must run FSVP supplier verification. US tariff treatment of Indian goods changed several times in 2025-26 (reciprocal tariffs, product exemptions, a Feb-2026 India-US framework and later court rulings) - verify the current duty for the HTS line before quoting landed cost. US and Canadian buyers specify arsenic and pesticide limits; Canadian importers need an SFC licence (CFIA).
United Kingdom
UK: the India-UK CETA entered into force on 15 July 2026 (reported) - claim preference with proof of origin; higher-risk food needs IPAFFS pre-notification. Traditional and 1121 raw basmati sell in UK retail; the UK Code of Practice on basmati (DNA purity) is applied by importers.
Gulf (GCC)
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.
General guidance, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with your customs broker or the regulator.
Trade policy note
Basmati export is 'Free' subject to registration of each export contract with APEDA (RCAC). The minimum export price imposed in 2023 was removed in September 2024 (research/01 citing APEDA policy notes). As of 2026-11 no basmati-specific restriction was found - verify current DGFT policy before quoting.
Quality control
- • Pre-shipment inspection by SGS / Bureau Veritas / Intertek on request
- • Grain length, broken and moisture analysis per lot
- • Pesticide-residue screening (incl. tricyclazole) for EU/UK lots at NABL-accredited labs
- • DNA purity test on request
Certifications available
- • FSSAI licence
- • APEDA RCMC
- • Phytosanitary certificate
- • HACCP
- • ISO 22000
- • BRCGS Food Safety
- • Halal certificate
- • Kosher certificate
- • India Organic (NPOP)
- • Geographical Indication (GI)
- • SFDA registration
Held by the producing supplier for the specific lot; copies shared with the quote.
Shipping documents
- • Commercial invoice
- • Packing list
- • Bill of lading
- • Certificate of origin (preferential where an FTA applies)
- • Phytosanitary certificate
- • Fumigation certificate
- • APEDA registration of the basmati export contract (RCAC)
- • Certificate of analysis
- • Weight and quality certificate
- • Health certificate (EIC) where required
Trade data
| Period | Flow | Value (USD mn) | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2024-25 | India exportsLine: Basmati rice | 5,944 | verified | apeda.gov.in |
Top destinations: Saudi Arabia 20.25%; Iraq 14.30%; Iran 12.67% (then UAE, Yemen)
Export markets
Frequently asked questions
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.
How much basmati fits in a 20-foot container?
About 24-26 MT in 25-50 kg bags is typical; the exact load depends on the bag size and road-weight limits at destination.
Do you supply private-label retail packs?
Yes - 1 kg to 10 kg retail packs can be produced under the buyer's brand at partner mills, subject to artwork approval and destination labelling rules.
Is basmati exportable from India without restrictions?
Basmati export is free subject to APEDA contract registration; the 2023 minimum export price was removed in 2024. Check current DGFT notifications before contracting.
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