Basmati Rice Prices Expected to Stay High in Coming Months
12-Sep-2025 01:03 PM
New Delhi. Due to surplus rains and severe floods in a large area, there are reports of damage to the Basmati rice crop, especially in Punjab and Haryana, during the current Kharif season.
Due to this, there is a possibility of a decrease in the production and exportable stock of Basmati rice and a rise in prices. Most of the areas of Punjab are caught in the grip of severe floods.
According to trade analysts, due to water accumulation in the fields, there may be a delay in the harvesting and preparation of the new crop of Basmati rice.
It is believed that this process may start from mid-October while the price of Basmati rice may remain high. According to rough estimates, this time about 30 percent of the paddy crop in Punjab has been affected by floods and rains, which is sure to have a direct impact on rice production.
Although the crop has also been damaged in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan due to natural calamities, but the extent of damage there is limited.
It is noteworthy that Punjab's contribution in the gross export of Basmati rice from India is close to 40 percent. During the financial year 2024-25 (April-March), a total of 60.70 lakh tonnes of Basmati rice was exported from the country and during the current financial year 2025-26, there is no possibility of much change in its shipment.
On the other hand, there are reports of heavy damage to the Basmati paddy crop due to devastating floods in Pakistan, due to which the production and stock of its rice will decrease.
Since Basmati rice is legally exported only from India and Pakistan, due to reduced production and strong prices in both these countries, the global market price of Basmati rice can also naturally increase.
India remains far ahead of its only rival Pakistan in the production and export of Basmati rice. This time in India, farmers showed good interest in Basmati cultivation and its production was expected to be better but after the terrible floods in Punjab-Haryana,
the possibility of increase in production has diminished and instead of a fall in its price, an environment of rise and strength is expected.