India’s basmati acreage decline signals tighter supply and higher rice prices
Basmati acreage has fallen for a second year, pointing to lower output and firmer prices. Export quotes are already 15–20% above last year, while limited premium Pusa 1121 availability is lifting demand for early Haryana and Uttar Pradesh arrivals.
What happened
Indian Basmati rice · India’s Basmati acreage has fallen for a second year, pointing to lower output and firmer prices. Export prices are already 15-20% higher
Key facts
- Basmati acreage down nearly 4% year-on-year
- Acreage about 1 lakh hectares below 24.9 lakh hectares in 2025
- 2024 Basmati acreage: about 27.5 lakh hectares
- Last-year domestic production: about 10 million tonnes
- 2025-26 exports: 6.52 million tonnes worth $5.67 billion
What changed
India’s Basmati acreage has fallen for a second year, pointing to lower output and firmer prices. Export prices are already 15-20% higher year-on-year, while lower premium Pusa 1121 availability is lifting demand for early arrivals in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
Why this matters
Lock in basmati supply early, prioritize Pusa 1121 allocations, and prepare selective shelf-price increases as reduced acreage sustains 15–20% higher procurement costs.
What to watch
- Final acreage and yield estimates in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Punjab.
- Arrival volumes and mandi prices during the new-crop harvest period.
- Export quote movements for Pusa 1121 and competing basmati grades.
- Changes in Indian rice export policy, minimum export prices, duties, or stock-release measures.
- Monsoon performance, irrigation availability, and pest or disease reports affecting yield quality.
Also reported by
- The Hindu BusinessLine — Same time