Key facts
- India exported US$6,528 million of non-basmati rice in FY2024-25 (apeda.gov.in).
- Largest destinations by value: Benin 15.71%; Guinea 8.21%; Cote d'Ivoire 7.97% (then Togo, Bangladesh)
- 2 production clusters mapped, in Haryana; Punjab; Uttar Pradesh; Uttarakhand; J&K, Andhra Pradesh; Chhattisgarh; West Bengal; Telangana; Odisha; UP.
- Market guides for 16 countries, each with destination requirements and transit times.
- Certifications available from the supply base: FSSAI licence, APEDA RCMC, Phytosanitary certificate, HACCP, ISO 22000 and more.
- Typical minimum order: One 20' container (about 25 MT) for bags; break-bulk parcels from several thousand tonnes for tenders (typical).
Product overview
India is the world's largest rice exporter by volume. APEDA reports non-basmati exports of US$ 6,528 million (about 14.13 million tonnes) in FY2024-25, led by West African markets (Benin, Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire, Togo) and Bangladesh.
The trade covers several distinct products: long-grain IR-64 and Swarna (raw and parboiled) for Africa and Asia; Sona Masoori, a light medium-grain rice from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka popular with South Indian diaspora retail in the US, UK and Gulf; Ponni from Tamil Nadu; and 100% broken rice for feed, brewing and food manufacturing.
Sourcing hubs are the Kakinada port belt in Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal (Burdwan), Telangana and Odisha. Buyers specify broken %, moisture, chalkiness and whether the rice is sortexed, and container loads ship in 25-50 kg PP bags.
HS note: Parboiled non-basmati, white non-basmati and broken rice (1006 40) have separate ITC(HS) lines and have had different export policies since 2022 - quote the exact 8-digit line.
Specifications
| Broken | 5% (premium), 15%, 25% or 100% broken grades (typical trade grades) |
|---|---|
| Moisture | ≤ 13-14% (typical) |
| Average grain length | IR-64 about 5.8-6.2 mm; Sona Masoori about 5.0-5.2 mm (typical) |
| Chalky grains | ≤ 5-6% (typical) |
| Damaged / discoloured | ≤ 1-2% (typical) |
| Foreign matter | ≤ 0.1-0.5% (typical) |
| Processing | Sortex cleaned, double polished for retail grades (typical) |
Typical commercial values. Final specifications are fixed per contract and verified by lab report or pre-shipment inspection.
Grades & variants
IR-64 Parboiled 5% / 25% broken
Main West African staple-rice grade; sold in 25-50 kg bags.
IR-64 / Swarna Raw White
Long-grain white rice for Asia, Africa and food manufacturers.
Sona Masoori (raw, steam, aged)
Light, low-starch medium grain favoured by South Indian diaspora retail in USA, UK, GCC and Australia.
Ponni (raw / boiled)
Tamil Nadu medium grain for Tamil diaspora markets (Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, Gulf).
100% Broken rice
For feed, brewing, rice flour and noodle makers; policy has changed frequently - verify before quoting.
Packaging, MOQ & container loading
| Packing | Sizes | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bulk | 25 kg and 50 kg PP woven bags | Fumigated containers; break-bulk vessels for large African tenders |
| Retail | 1, 5, 10, 20 lb / 1, 5, 10, 20 kg bags | Sona Masoori retail bags common for US and GCC diaspora retail |
Container load (estimate): 20' GP about 24-26 MT in 25-50 kg bags · 40' HC about 26-27 MT (weight-limited). Derived from ONE container payloads (research/06 E.4)
Customisation: Buyer-brand printed bags, retail Sona Masoori packs, aged rice, specified broken percentage
Where we source in India
Producing regions and manufacturing clusters our supplier network draws from.
Andhra Pradesh
East Godavari, West Godavari, Krishna, Guntur
Kakinada rice-export hub; Sona Masoori and parboiled IR-64
Telangana
Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Nalgonda
Sona Masoori and parboiled rice mills
Chhattisgarh
Raipur, Durg, Dhamtari
Large non-basmati milling base
West Bengal
Burdwan, Hooghly
Swarna and parboiled rice
Tamil Nadu
Thanjavur, Tiruvarur
Ponni rice
Market requirements by region
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. Sona Masoori is a leading US diaspora rice; importers specify arsenic and pesticide limits.
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. Sona Masoori and Ponni sell through GCC diaspora retail; parboiled long grain goes to labour-camp catering.
Africa
West Africa (Benin 15.71%, Guinea 8.21%, Cote d'Ivoire 7.97%, then Togo - APEDA FY2024-25) buys parboiled and white long grain mainly CFR in 50 kg bags; Nigeria requires NAFDAC registration by the importer for packaged food.
South Asia
Bangladesh is a large but tender- and duty-driven buyer whose demand swings with its own harvest; Sri Lanka and Nepal buy specific varieties (Ponni / samba-type).
General guidance, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with your customs broker or the regulator.
Trade policy note
Non-basmati rice policy changed repeatedly in 2022-25 (white-rice ban and parboiled duty in 2023, lifted in Sep-Oct 2024; broken-rice exports reopened in 2025 - general knowledge, verify). Since DGFT Notification 33/2025-26 (24 Sep 2025), non-basmati exports are permitted only after the contract is registered with APEDA (RCAC). As of 2026-11 no later change was confirmed - verify current DGFT policy before quoting. Source: https://apeda.gov.in/sites/default/files/trade_notice/RCAC_trade_notice_NBR25092025Sign.pdf
Quality control
- • Pre-shipment inspection by SGS / Bureau Veritas / Intertek on request
- • Accredited (NABL) lab report for moisture, aflatoxin, pesticide residues and microbials
- • Pre-shipment and loading photographs, container seal record
- • Draft survey / weight certificate for break-bulk
Certifications available
- • FSSAI licence
- • APEDA RCMC
- • Phytosanitary certificate
- • HACCP
- • ISO 22000
- • Halal certificate
- • India Organic (NPOP)
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 export contract (RCAC)
- • Certificate of analysis
- • Weight and quality certificate
Trade data
| Period | Flow | Value (USD mn) | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2024-25 | India exportsLine: Non-basmati rice | 6,528 | verified | apeda.gov.in |
Top destinations: Benin 15.71%; Guinea 8.21%; Cote d'Ivoire 7.97% (then Togo, Bangladesh)
Export markets
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Sona Masoori and IR-64?
Sona Masoori is a lightweight, aromatic medium grain from south India sold mainly to diaspora retail; IR-64 is a long-grain variety exported raw or parboiled as a staple rice, mainly to Africa and Asia.
Which broken percentages can you offer?
Standard trade grades are 5%, 15%, 25% and 100% broken; tighter specifications can be milled to order.
Do non-basmati exports need registration?
Yes. Since 24 September 2025 each non-basmati export contract must be registered with APEDA before shipment (DGFT Notification 33/2025-26).
How is non-basmati rice packed for Africa?
Typically in 25 or 50 kg PP woven bags with buyer marking, loaded about 25 MT per 20-foot container or shipped break-bulk for large tenders.
Can you supply 100% broken rice?
Broken rice export policy has changed several times since 2022; we confirm current DGFT status before accepting any broken-rice enquiry.
Request a quote for Non-Basmati Rice (Sona Masoori, IR-64, Ponni, Swarna, Broken)
Tell us grade, quantity and destination. We reply with options, packaging and pricing on your Incoterm.
