Agri & processed food exports rise 13%

Rice shipments grow 21% as govt removes restrictions

- SANDIP DAS

INDIA'S EXPORTS OF agricultural and processed food products rose by more than 13% year-on-year to $22.67 billion during April-February of the current financial year, mainly driven by a sharp increase of 21% in rice shipments.

According to data provided by the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics, rice exports, including of basmati and non-basmati varieties, in the first 11 months of FY25 increased by 21% to over $11 billion compared with $9.32 billion in the year-ago period.

The government started easing rice export restrictions in September 2024 on prospects of bumper output and significantly higher stocks, around a year after they were imposed. It has since removed all export restrictions, including the minimum export price, on rice shipments.