India's rice export figures in 2024 reflect a strong global demand, especially for Basmati rice, which saw a notable 16.3% increase despite price challenges.

This growth in Basmati exports highlights its sustained popularity in regions like the Middle East, with countries such as Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and the UAE continuing to be major buyers.

However, the export of non-Basmati rice faced a decline due to high prices, affecting countries like Bangladesh and Cameroon, which had to reduce their imports.

Still, India's overall rice export numbers remained impressive, at 178 lakh tonnes, only slightly down from the previous year's total.

India's dominance in the global rice export market is clear, as it contributes a significant share—around 40-42%—and exports more than the combined total of the next four largest rice-exporting nations: Thailand, Vietnam, Pakistan, and the United States.

Looking ahead, there are optimistic forecasts for continued growth, especially in 2025, after overcoming early predictions of a 20% decline in exports. This bounce back could be attributed to the strong export performance in the last quarter of 2024.