Apeda Chairman announces major global expansion drive as exports surge; Bharat International Rice Conference 2025 to forge new trade partnerships
India is targeting 26 new international markets to increase its rice exports, the government’s agricultural export body said on Friday. The move aims to strengthen India’s foothold in competitive destinations that currently import from rival producers such as Pakistan.
According to Abhishek Dev, Chairman of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Apeda), rice exports are growing at a healthy pace, and the country plans to enhance shipments to nations including the Philippines, Indonesia, the UK, and Mexico. These countries import significant quantities of rice from India’s competitors, providing fresh opportunities for expansion.
A Broad Market Push
The list of target markets is extensive, covering Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, Iraq, the United States, Malaysia, China, France, the United Arab Emirates, Brazil, South Africa, Belgium, Japan, Germany, and Kenya, among others. The initiative follows strong export performance in recent months.
Rice exports in September 2025 rose 33.18 per cent to USD 925 million, while exports during April–September 2025 grew 10 per cent to USD 5.63 billion. In the 2024–25 financial year, India exported 20.1 million metric tonnes of rice worth USD 12.95 billion, reaching more than 172 countries worldwide.
Conference to Forge New Deals
To support this expansion, a major event — the Bharat International Rice Conference (BIRC) 2025 — is being organised to strengthen India’s presence in global rice markets. The Commerce Ministry said the event aims to unlock Rs 1.80 lakh crore in potential new rice import markets and facilitate Rs 25,000 crore worth of export memoranda of understanding (MoUs).
“We are looking to expand our exports to these 26 markets,” said Dev while briefing reporters about BIRC 2025, which will be held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The two-day conference is being organised by the Indian Rice Exporters’ Federation (IREF) in collaboration with Apeda.
Dev added that the conference will bring together producers, exporters, importers, policymakers, financiers, logistics providers, research institutions, and allied service companies to promote transparency, efficiency, and resilience in the global rice trade.
“India is one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of rice, supplying to over 172 countries. BIRC 2025 will give stakeholders a platform to strengthen their position in global food supply chains,” he said.
Over 3,000 farmers and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), 1,000 international buyers from more than 80 countries, and 2,500 exporters, millers, and allied industries are expected to participate.
Strong Domestic Production Base
India’s export ambitions are supported by a robust domestic production base. The country produced around 150 million tonnes of rice in 2024–25 from nearly 47 million hectares, accounting for about 28 per cent of global output.
Average yields have improved from 2.72 tonnes per hectare in 2014–15 to approximately 3.2 tonnes per hectare in 2024–25, driven by improved seed varieties, enhanced agronomic practices, and expanded irrigation networks.
Apeda, an arm of the Ministry of Commerce, oversees the promotion and facilitation of India’s agricultural exports and plays a central role in expanding market access for key commodities like rice.
