Basmati rice shipments stall at Indian ports after Iran strikes disrupt shipping
Mar 3rd 2026
Exporters say US and Israeli strikes on Iran have disrupted shipping, leaving roughly 181,000 to 227,000 tonnes of basmati rice stuck at Indian ports and pushing up freight and insurance costs for a crop whose top market is the Middle East.
- About 181,400 to 226,800 tonnes of basmati rice are stranded at Indian ports, according to the All India Rice Exporters’ Association president Satish Goel.
- The disruption follows US and Israeli strikes on Iran that have increased shipping risks and made vessels harder to secure.
- India exported 4.26 million tonnes of basmati rice worth about US$4 billion in the nine months to December, with the Middle East as the top market.
- Shipping lines have added surcharges of about US$2,000 per container and freight rates are expected to rise, says Olam Agri India deputy country head Nitin Gupta.
- Insurance premiums are likely to climb, raising logistics costs that could be passed on to consumers and importing countries.
- Exporters have asked the government to waive port ground rent and help cover interest costs caused by delays, and industry sources warn the disruption could spread to other agricultural commodities.