India's Rice Exports: Who Ships It and How to Source
How India's rice export market works: basmati versus non-basmati, APEDA rules, the three tiers of exporters, and how Gulf and other importers source rice.
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Rice · HS 1006.30
Basmati Rice
Premium basmati rice in 1121, 1509 and Pusa varieties, available as white, sella (parboiled) and steam, graded for length, purity and moisture.
Choose your rice specification
Choose the variety first, then the processing. Sella (parboiled) and steam describe processing, not rice varieties.
- Basmati: 1121, 1509 or Pusa
Specify white, sella (parboiled) or steam separately from the variety. - Non-basmati: IR64, Sona Masoori, Swarna or PR11
Specify raw white or parboiled, plus the broken-grain percentage: 5%, 10%, 25% or 100%.
Specify the basmati combination you need
- 1121 white sella: request 1121 with white sella (parboiled) processing; do not use “white” alone, which can be confused with raw white rice.
- 1121 golden sella: request 1121 with golden sella (parboiled) processing; keep golden and white sella distinct in the enquiry.
- 1509 steam: request the 1509 variety with steam processing, not sella. These names identify requirements, not confirmed stock.
For either rice category, shared published specification ranges do not substitute for confirmed variety, processing and lot specifications. Confirm the exact offered combination, grade and lot specification in the quotation before ordering.
The rice price page is a non-basmati market reference, not a basmati price or a quotation for your exact specification. View non-basmati rice reference prices
Buying rice for Saudi Arabia or Qatar?
Use the destination guide to prepare your enquiry about import documents and labelling, then include your port and rice requirements in the quotation request.
Saudi Arabia importer guide
Qatar importer guide
What to include in your quotation request
- Variety and processing; required grain length, moisture and broken-grain percentage.
- Quantity in metric tonnes, bag size and any private-label requirements.
- Destination port and shipment window. Confirm the specification and packing in the quotation.
Standard export specifications by variant
Standard Indian export specifications for the grades we are asked for most often. Values are the usual maximums and minimums for the grade; the specification for your lot is confirmed in the quotation and the certificate of analysis.
1121 white sella (parboiled)
| Average grain length, uncooked | 8.30–8.35 mm |
|---|---|
| Average grain length, cooked | 18–20 mm |
| Broken grains, maximum | 2% |
| Moisture, maximum | 12% |
| Damaged or discoloured grains, maximum | 1% |
| Chalky grains, maximum | 1% |
| Foreign matter, maximum | 0.1% |
| Purity, minimum | 95% |
| Sortex cleaning | 100% |
1121 golden sella (parboiled)
| Average grain length, uncooked | 8.30–8.35 mm |
|---|---|
| Average grain length, cooked | 18–20 mm |
| Broken grains, maximum | 2% |
| Moisture, maximum | 12% |
| Damaged or discoloured grains, maximum | 1% |
| Chalky grains, maximum | 1% |
| Foreign matter, maximum | 0.1% |
| Purity, minimum | 95% |
| Sortex cleaning | 100% |
1121 steam
| Average grain length, uncooked | 8.30–8.35 mm |
|---|---|
| Average grain length, cooked | 18–20 mm |
| Broken grains, maximum | 2% |
| Moisture, maximum | 12% |
| Damaged or discoloured grains, maximum | 1% |
| Chalky grains, maximum | 2% |
| Foreign matter, maximum | 0.1% |
| Purity, minimum | 95% |
| Sortex cleaning | 100% |
1509 steam
| Average grain length, uncooked | 8.40–8.45 mm |
|---|---|
| Broken grains, maximum | 2% |
| Moisture, maximum | 12% |
| Damaged or discoloured grains, maximum | 1% |
| Chalky grains, maximum | 2% |
| Foreign matter, maximum | 0.1% |
| Purity, minimum | 95% |
| Sortex cleaning | 100% |
Pusa basmati (white, sella or steam)
| Average grain length, uncooked | 7.40–7.60 mm |
|---|---|
| Broken grains, maximum | 2% |
| Moisture, maximum | 12% |
| Damaged or discoloured grains, maximum | 1% |
| Chalky grains, maximum | 3% |
| Foreign matter, maximum | 0.1% |
| Purity, minimum | 95% |
| Sortex cleaning | 100% |
Broken percentages for non-basmati grades are on the 2/3 broken basis. Grain length is measured on whole uncooked kernels unless stated as cooked. Combinations not listed here are quoted on request.
Specifications
| Varieties | 1121, 1509, Pusa |
|---|---|
| Types | White, sella (parboiled), steam |
| Average grain length | 7.5–8.4 mm and above |
| Moisture | Below 12% |
| Broken grains | Below 2% |
| Purity | 95% and above |
- White
- Steam
- Golden Sella
Packaging and minimum order
10 kg, 25 kg or 50 kg PP or non-woven bags; private-label consumer packs on request. Minimum order is one 20-foot container unless agreed otherwise.
Applications
- Retail and wholesale distribution
- Food service and catering
- Repacking under buyer brands
Markets we supply
We supply basmati to importers and repackers in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and the wider Gulf through Jebel Ali, sella or white as specified, with bag marking in Arabic and English on request. Shipment documents and any applicable certification requirements must be confirmed for the destination and order before booking. Lead time to dispatch and estimated sea transit are confirmed separately in the quote, based on cargo readiness, destination, route and vessel schedule.
Quality and documents
Each lot is sampled at sourcing and again before loading. Shipments travel with commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin, phytosanitary certificate, fumigation certificate and the relevant test report. Pre-shipment inspection by SGS can be arranged.
Frequently asked
What is the difference between 1121 and 1509?
1121 has the longest grain and highest elongation on cooking; 1509 is slightly shorter and priced lower. Both are available as white, sella and steam.
Do you supply sella (parboiled) basmati?
Yes. Golden and white sella are available alongside raw white and steam rice.
Which bag sizes are standard?
10, 25 and 50 kg. Smaller consumer packs can be arranged.
What is the basmati rice price for UAE importers?
Priced per tonne by variety and type, for example 1121 sella against 1509 white, plus packing and freight to Jebel Ali. Send quantity and packing for a landed quote.
Reading
Guides for buyers of basmati rice
Private Label Rice and Pulses: Your Brand on the Bag
How private-label packing works: 25 to 50 kg bags with your brand, minimum orders, artwork and compliance, and why it beats reselling another label.
Read the guide
UAE Agro Import Market: Complete Sourcing Guide for Indian Commodities
How UAE importers source rice, pulses, cotton and spices from India: what to check in a supplier, import documents, Incoterms and UAE import regulations.
Read the guide
Quotation
Request a quote for Basmati Rice
To quote firmly we need the grade or specification, the quantity in metric tonnes, the packing, your destination port and the shipment window.
For basmati, name the variety (1121, 1509 or Pusa) and the processing (white, steam or sella). Gulf importers can name their port, such as Jebel Ali or Hamad.
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Related
Other Rice products
Non-Basmati Rice
Long, medium and short grain rice for volume markets
- Varieties
- IR64, Sona Masoori, Swarna, PR11
- Types
- Raw white, parboiled