News Capsule: West Asia conflict impacts India’s rice exports
05-Mar-2026 03:11 PM
News Capsule: West Asia conflict impacts India’s rice exports
★ The ongoing conflict in West Asia has disrupted India’s rice exports, with about 2–4 lakh tonnes of rice stuck at different stages of the supply chain. Around 3,000 rice containers are currently stranded at Indian ports, including Kandla and Mundra.
★ Gulf countries are among the largest importers of Indian basmati rice, and shipments to the region usually increase during Ramadan. Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the UAE and Iran are key buyers of Indian rice.
★ Exporters have requested the government to waive port charges due to rising demurrage costs. A meeting with the Commerce Ministry is expected to discuss possible measures to address the exporters’ concerns.