Iran stepped up basmati imports under war cloud

Amid reports of tonnes of basmati rice stranded at Indian ports because of the ongoing West Asia crisis, data indicates that Iran, at the centre of the conflict and one of the largest buyers of Indian basmati, appears to be on a stocking spree for the staple grain.

- SANJEEB MUKHERJEE

The rise in shipments to Iran may also be linked to demand during Ramzan, which began in mid-February.

Indian exports of aromatic basmati rice to Iran totalled about 1.04 million tonnes (mt) in the 2025 calendar year (January-December), nearly 27.2 per cent higher than in 2024.

Data shows that in January and February 2026, Iran purchased around 238,775 tonnes of basmati rice from India, almost 23 per cent more than in the same period a year ago. This marked the highest level of basmati exports for these two months since 2023. The consignments were bought at an average price of about $800-$810 per tonne. In January 2026 alone, Iran imported roughly 118,623 tonnes of basmati rice from India, nearly 70 per cent more than in January 2025.