India: Non-basmati rice vessel line-up reaches nearly 900,000 t; Benin tops export destinations

• West Africa remains key market for India’s non-basmati rice exports
• Kakinada continues to dominate export cargo handling among major ports

India’s non-basmati rice vessel line-up for key export markets stood at 894,973 tonnes (t) as of 20 July 2026, with cargo scheduled across major loading ports including Kakinada, Chennai, Kandla, Vizag, and Kolkata. The shipments comprise mainly 5% parboiled (PB) and bagged rice, with Benin remaining the largest destination among listed markets.

Benin leads scheduled shipments; West African markets dominate exports

Benin accounted for the highest scheduled volume at 188,900 t, loaded from Kakinada and Chennai. The consignments include 5% PB and bagged rice, with major exporters comprising Balaji Rice, Gurudeo Exports, Pattabhi Agro, LDC, Rice Bridge, Satyam Balaji, Vast Exim, Bastman, Olam Agri India, and Adani Wilmar.

Ivory Coast ranked second with 50,000 t of 5% PB rice scheduled from Kakinada, handled by OMM Agro and others.

Among other destinations, Cameroon is set to receive 23,350 t of bagged rice from Kandla, exported by Olam Agri, MOI Commodities India, Freedom Rice Industries, CLRK Industries and Sai Nath Rice Industries.

Further shipments include:

• Congo: 17,500 t of bagged rice from Chennai, handled by Olam Agri and others.
• Nigeria: 15,900 t of 5% PB rice from Kakinada, exported by Pattabhi Agro and others.
• Somalia: 15,400 t of bagged rice from Kandla, handled by HRMM Agro Overseas and Kirti Bhavya Enterprises.
• Angola: 6,220 t of bagged rice from Kandla, exported by Navya Foods, Sailor Exports, and others.

‘Others’ category accounts for over 577,000 t of scheduled exports

Apart from the listed destinations, the ‘Others’ category represents the largest share of the vessel lineup, with 577,703 t scheduled for shipment through Kakinada, Kandla, Vizag, and Kolkata.

The cargo consists of bagged rice and 5% PB, with major exporters including Supllex Tek Industries, HRMM Agro Overseas, and ITC. The category accounts for nearly two-thirds of the total scheduled vessel lineup, highlighting the broad distribution of Indian non-basmati rice exports across multiple overseas markets.

Kakinada records highest port cargo; total shipped volume exceeds 135,000 t

Port-wise data shows Kakinada continued to handle the largest cargo volume, with 414,800 t at anchorage, 34,000 t expected for loading, and 67,000 t already shipped. Kandla followed with 184,410 t at anchorage, 48,053 t at berth, 30,300 t expected, and 50,910 t shipped. Meanwhile, Chennai recorded 13,000 t at berth and 17,500 t shipped, while Vizag and Kolkata reported 30,000 t and 5,000 t at berth, respectively. Overall, the combined port position stood at 599,210 t at anchorage, 96,053 t at berth, 64,300 t expected for loading, and 135,410 t already shipped, reflecting active non-basmati rice export operations across major Indian ports.