UP’s rice boom in the world: Bumper jump in Basmati and non-Basmati exports, agricultural exports cross ₹ 30,000 crore!

Prashant Saxena, Lucknow, Read: Exports have increased rapidly due to abolition of minimum export price in Basmati rice and removal of ban on non-Basmati rice. Data from Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) shows that 98,006 metric tonnes of Basmati and 2,01,285 metric tonnes of non-Basmati were exported from Uttar Pradesh to many countries in the year 2025-26. Whereas in the year 2024-25, 78,566 metric tons of Basmati and 1,30,845 metric tons of non-Basmati rice were exported and in the year 2023-24, 58,572 metric tons of Basmati and 46,884 metric tons of non-Basmati rice were exported.

Actually, the minimum export price for the export of Basmati was $ 1200 per ton, which was higher according to the exporters. Because of this, exports were negligible. To increase exports, the central government reduced the minimum export price to $ 950 per tonne in August 2023. Even if exports did not increase, the minimum export price was completely abolished in September 2024. This opened up avenues for export and more exports have started taking place as compared to previous years.

Similarly, export of non-Basmati continued to be more in comparison to Basmati. Due to this, the availability of non-Basmati for the states itself started decreasing. If the situation does not worsen further, to reduce exports, 20 percent customs duty will be imposed on the export of non-Basmati in September 2022. Even after this, the export of non-Basmati did not stop, so the Center had to take strict steps and ban the export of non-Basmati on July 20, 2023. After the situation became normal, the export ban was lifted in October 2024. Now in the year 2026-27, there is a possibility of higher exports as compared to previous years. At the same time, the export of total 22 types of agricultural products including wheat, fruits and vegetables has also increased from Rs 24 thousand crore to Rs 30 thousand crore.

Exports worth so much rupees in these years

2023-24 – Basmati 623.74 crore, non-basmati 137.61 crore

2024-25 – Basmati 748.56 crore, non-basmati 380 crore

2025-26 – Basmati 868.37 crore, non-basmati 612.15 crore

These top-25 countries of Basmati export

South Africa, Canada, Nepal, United States, Australia, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Iraq, Germany, Belgium, Ghana, Reunion, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, United Arab Emirates, Sweden, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Portugal, Italy, Norway, France, Lebanon

These top-25 countries for export of non-Basmati

Nepal, United Arab Emirates, United States, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, United Kingdom, Sweden, Australia, Egypt, Ireland, Qatar, Iraq, South Africa, Norway, Hong Kong, Denmark, Switzerland, Mauritius, Angola, France, Oman, New Zealand