Indian rice exporters are experiencing significant growth in shipments to non-traditional destinations, with Jordan rice imports rising nearly eight-fold and basmati exports to Turkey doubling, according to conference organisers ahead of the Bharat International Rice Conference (BIRC) 2026. As reported by PTI, this surge highlights how markets outside the conventional list of the world's largest rice importers could offer significant opportunities for Indian exporters. The growth comes as global rice trade is projected to expand substantially over the next decade, with the industry gearing up for BIRC 2026 in October to explore these emerging opportunities.
The OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2026-2035 forecasts an increase of around 22 million tonnes to roughly 81 million tonnes by 2035, indicating substantial growth in global rice trade. According to the report, Africa's share of global rice imports is expected to climb from about 35% currently to nearly 45% by 2035, potentially representing a multi-billion-dollar opportunity for exporters. This projected growth in African markets presents significant expansion opportunities for Indian rice exporters, with organisers questioning where the next USD 10 billion in global rice demand will emerge and which suppliers will move first.
Dev Garg, vice-president of the Indian Rice Exporters Federation (IREF), emphasized the need for exporters to move away from targeting markets purely on size. As reported by PTI, Garg stated that "the traditional approach has been to look at the largest import markets and assume that those are automatically the best opportunities. We want to challenge that thinking." He cited Turkey and Jordan as markets that few would have flagged at the start of the year, demonstrating the potential for unexpected growth opportunities in emerging markets. The trend will anchor a session titled "Top 10 Rice Markets to Watch in 2027: Demand Signals and Entry Strategies" at BIRC 2026, which will move beyond simple import-volume rankings to assess demand growth, import dependence, competing origins, price realisation, product fit, freight costs, duties, regulatory requirements and payment risk for prospective markets.
The rise in shipments to Jordan did not necessarily reflect higher domestic consumption, with part of the growth tied to shifting regional trade routes following disruption to direct trade with Iran. According to the release, this has made Jordan more significant as a distribution hub and alternative trade corridor. As Garg explained, "Part of this growth has resulted from changes in the Iranian trade route. But that itself is market intelligence. A country may matter because of consumption, because of distribution, because it gives access to another geography, or because the competitive environment suddenly changes." The strategic importance of these regional connections highlights how geopolitical changes can create new opportunities for Indian rice exporters in previously underutilized markets.
India currently exports rice to more than 170 countries, though a large share of trade remains concentrated among established buyers. Organisers pointed to results from 26 priority markets identified around BIRC 2025 as evidence diversification efforts are gaining traction: exports to that basket totalled approximately ₹23,476 crore (USD 2.8 billion) and 4.79 million tonnes between November 2025 and March 2026, running 5.6% above the three-year average. BIRC 2026 will be held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi from October 23 to 25, bringing together Indian exporters, millers, international buyers, policymakers and trade experts to discuss opportunities and challenges in global rice trade. The conference will focus on execution strategies, identifying buyers, required varieties, specifications, pricing, distributor access, certification and documentation for structured B2B meetings between Indian exporters and overseas buyers.
