Indian Rice Finds New Markets as Turkey and Jordan Boost Imports
India’s rice export sector is witnessing an important shift as exporters expand their presence in markets beyond the country’s traditional buyers. Turkey and Jordan have emerged as promising destinations for Indian rice, with shipments to Jordan increasing sharply and Indian basmati exports to Turkey registering strong growth.
The development comes amid continuing disruptions in West Asian trade, particularly around established routes linked to Iran. Instead of allowing these challenges to restrict export opportunities, Indian traders are increasingly exploring alternative destinations and trade channels. The trend underlines the growing ability of India’s agricultural export sector to adapt to changing global market conditions.
Jordan and Turkey Gain Importance
Jordan has emerged as a particularly notable market, with Indian rice shipments reportedly increasing nearly eight-fold. Turkey has also become a growing destination for Indian basmati, with exports doubling. These developments are significant because both countries have traditionally played a smaller role in India’s rice export landscape compared with major buyers in West Asia and Africa.
Jordan is a net importer of rice and depends on overseas supplies to meet domestic requirements. Its role in regional food and humanitarian supply chains also gives it wider importance. Turkey, meanwhile, offers Indian exporters access to a strategically located market connecting Europe, the Mediterranean and West Asia.
India Remains a Global Rice Export Leader
India has a strong foundation from which to expand into newer markets. According to the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), India has remained the world’s largest rice exporter since 2012 and accounted for around 30–35% of global rice exports in recent years.
India’s rice exports increased from $8.82 billion in 2020–21 to $12.47 billion in 2024–25, while export volumes rose from 17.73 million tonnes to 20.19 million tonnes. Major destinations have included Saudi Arabia, Benin, Iraq, Iran, Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, the UAE and Togo.
The latest expansion into Turkey and Jordan therefore represents an additional layer of diversification rather than a replacement of India’s established export markets.
Iran Trade Faces Logistical Challenges
Iran remains an important destination for Indian rice, particularly basmati. However, geopolitical tensions and restrictions affecting regional logistics and financial transactions have created additional difficulties for exporters.
Reuters reported that Indian exports to Iran were expected to come under further pressure after disruptions involving Dubai, which has historically served as an important logistics and financial intermediary for Indian goods headed towards Iran. India exported around $383 million worth of rice to Iran during the first half of 2026, according to the report.
Government data cited by ThePrint also showed that Iran purchased more than one million tonnes of Indian rice in the previous financial year, highlighting the importance of the Iranian market despite the difficulties surrounding trade.
Diversification Could Strengthen Export Resilience
The changing situation highlights why diversification is increasingly important for India's rice exporters. Dependence on a limited number of markets can expose agricultural exports to geopolitical tensions, shipping disruptions, currency fluctuations and changes in import regulations.
The emergence of Turkey and Jordan gives exporters additional avenues to maintain international sales while reducing dependence on any single destination. This becomes particularly relevant for basmati rice, a premium Indian agricultural product with strong recognition in international markets.
India is also expected to remain a major force in the global rice trade. An APEDA market assessment has projected Indian rice exports at around 25 million tonnes in the 2026–27 marketing year, potentially a record level, supported by competitive prices and strong production availability.
Global Demand Creates Further Potential
The opportunity for Indian exporters extends beyond Turkey and Jordan. African markets are already major destinations for Indian non-basmati rice, while demand across West Asia and other developing regions continues to provide opportunities.
APEDA data shows that Saudi Arabia, Iran, the UAE, Benin, Iraq, Bangladesh, Togo, Guinea, Nepal, Yemen and Côte d’Ivoire are among the leading destinations for Indian cereals in 2025–26.
This broad geographical demand gives Indian exporters room to develop new markets while strengthening existing relationships. Maintaining consistent quality, competitive pricing and reliable delivery will be important as competition among major rice-exporting countries remains strong.
Quality and Supply Chain Will Remain Crucial
As India expands into newer destinations, maintaining quality standards will be just as important as increasing export volumes. Different markets have their own food-safety, inspection and certification requirements, making compliance essential for sustaining long-term trade.
APEDA has continued to issue export-related advisories and procedures for markets including Saudi Arabia, China, Lebanon, Senegal, Indonesia and other destinations.
For Indian exporters, therefore, the next phase of growth will depend not only on finding new buyers but also on building dependable supply chains capable of meeting international standards.
The MGMM Outlook
India’s decision to provide Nepal with up to 654 MW of electricity for 18 hours a day until December 31, 2026, comes at a critical time as the country struggles with extensive damage to its hydropower infrastructure following devastating floods. The emergency support can help Nepal maintain essential services, hospitals, communications and economic activity while damaged power projects are restored. It also reflects the practical value of the growing India-Nepal energy partnership, with cross-border transmission networks now helping Nepal during a severe national crisis.
The situation highlights how regional cooperation can become especially important during natural disasters. With Nepal facing a long and difficult reconstruction process, India’s electricity assistance provides immediate support while also reinforcing the broader energy relationship between the two neighbours. The disaster further underlines the need for stronger Himalayan disaster preparedness, early-warning systems and resilient infrastructure, making continued cooperation between India and Nepal important for both recovery and long-term regional resilience.
(Sources: NDTV, Economic Times)
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