Basmati rice tops ₹100/kg as tighter crop outlook and export demand lift prices
Flood-hit output in Punjab and Haryana and resilient West Asian demand are pushing up basmati and non-basmati rice prices, extending grocery cost pressure through the festive season. KRBL expects limited near-term relief.
What happened
KRBL Limited · Lower flood-affected Punjab and Haryana output and strong West Asian demand have lifted Indian basmati and non-basmati rice prices. KRBL expects
Key facts
- Basmati rice prices rose 15-20% year-on-year in FY2026-27 Q1
- Non-basmati rice prices rose 20-25%
- Basmati retail price reached about ₹100/kg versus ₹85/kg a year earlier
- India exported a record 6.52 million tonnes of basmati to 154 countries in FY2025-26
- 1509 paddy opening arrivals were about 20% higher year-on-year
What changed
Lower flood-affected Punjab and Haryana output and strong West Asian demand have lifted Indian basmati and non-basmati rice prices. KRBL expects limited near-term relief, potentially keeping food-cost pressure high for retailers through the festive season.
Why this matters
Plan for sustained festive-season rice cost inflation by securing supply, recalibrating promotions and protecting value-tier availability as basmati reaches roughly ₹100/kg.
What to watch
- Punjab and Haryana crop-damage assessments, mandi arrivals, and harvest yield updates.
- Basmati export orders and shipment volumes to West Asia.
- Wholesale paddy and rice prices versus retail shelf-price changes.
- Government decisions on rice stocks, export policy, minimum support pricing, or market interventions.
- Private-label rice availability, promotional intensity, and consumer switching into lower-priced grains.