- West Africa bulk steady; fixtures slow on higher owner rates
- Gulf container shipments delayed on war risks and rising surcharge
India’s rice export freight market remained volatile as of 18 March 2026, with bulk freight on West Africa routes largely steady while containerised shipments from west coast ports continued to face disruptions amid geopolitical tensions, rising bunker prices and cautious market sentiment.
Market participants said logistics operations have become increasingly strained due to operational disruptions across key shipping corridors.
Bulk market: High cargo supply, limited fixing
Freight sentiment for rice shipments from India’s east coast to West Africa remained steady, though fixing activity was limited as owners sought higher freight while charterers resisted.
A ship-operator source said, “Same as last week nothing changed. There are many cargoes in the market, but fixtures are not concluding as owners with spot vessels are holding back and quoting higher freight levels that charterers find unworkable. Overall the situation in both east coast and west coast India is not very favourable for Indian exports.”
Another source noted, “Market is stable, stock is low and that is why prices are not coming down. Exporters are at a loss.”
Container market: Gulf disruptions delay shipments
Containerised rice shipments from India’s west coast continued to face logistical disruptions as tensions in the Middle East affected vessel movements and sailing schedules on key Gulf routes.
A rice exporter said, “Yes there is a delay of around ten days, and loading from Gulf & Middle east is currently stopped.”
Another exporter indicated that, “some major container lines have suspended services on affected routes, while others have resumed accepting cargo at significantly higher freight levels. War-risk surcharges remain elevated, and several services are being rerouted via the Cape of Good Hope instead of the Red Sea.”
“War-related surcharges of $1,500-2,000 have emerged on some Gulf and Middle East container routes, while Mombasa shipments remain exempt,” sources added.
Rice market: Exporters cautious amid freight volatility
Despite the presence of cargo stems in the market, exporters remain cautious in fixing shipments as freight volatility, rising logistics costs and delays continue to affect export margins.
A source added, “Volume is stuck due to war conditions and surcharges are high at this point.”
Outlook
Freight sentiment in India’s rice export market is expected to remain volatile in the near term amid rising bunker prices, geopolitical tensions and operational disruptions affecting vessel availability and shipment schedules across key export routes.
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