Basmati rice:
Basmati rice is majorly produced in India, with balance quantity from Pakistan.
India’s basmati rice exports are about 37 per cent of the total rice exports by quantity and 60 per cent by value.
India exports basmati rice to Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, UAE, Kuwait, Iraq, the UK, Yemen Republic, USA, Canada and Oman. The Middle East, constituting 74 per cent of India’s Basmati rice exports, remains a pivotal basmati rice market.
India exported basmati rice worth Rs 50,312 crore in 2024-2025 fiscal year, when compared to about Rs 48,389 crore in 2023-2024.
Despite the tensions between Iran and Israel, the export of Indian basmati rice surged by Rs 1,923 crore in 2024-25 fiscal year, when compared with the previous fiscal year.
According to industry players, the recent tariff war (50 per cent tariff on Indian exports to US) is posing yet another challenge to the India Basmati exports to the USA with preferential treatment to Pakistan.
If the 50 per cent tariff remain in place for an extended period, it could impact India’s competitiveness in the U.S. basmati market as Pakistan export currently enjoy a 19 per cent tariff, which is a much lower level, they added.
Tea:
India exports tea to several countries, with the UAE, Iraq, USA, Russian Federation, and Iran emerging as top destinations.
Tea exports from India to Iran have grown USD $40.81 million in 2024 from USD$29.62 million in 2023.
Further, in the period January-June 2025, Tea exports to Iran stood at USD $23.21 million, up 13.89 per cent from USD$20.38 million in the comparable period last year.