Middle East Crisis Hits India’s Rice Exports; Shipments Stalled, Prices Fall
24-Mar-2026 04:33 PM
Middle East Crisis Hits India’s Rice Exports; Shipments Stalled, Prices Fall
★ India’s rice exports have been severely impacted by the ongoing conflict in Iran, with large volumes of shipments getting stuck and prices coming under pressure.
★ Around 400,000 tonnes of rice are currently stranded at ports or at sea, leading to heavy losses for exporters.
★ Last year, India exported nearly 6 million tonnes of basmati rice, with a significant share going to Middle Eastern countries. However, demand from key buyer Iran has weakened and disrupted shipping routes have brought new orders to a near halt.
★ If the stranded cargo is diverted to the domestic market, increased supply could push prices down further.
★ Overall, the Middle East crisis has had a significant impact on India’s rice exports, prices, and the broader agricultural supply chain.