Rice exporters in Haryana are facing delays in payments and disruptions in shipments to Iran and Afghanistan after US and Israeli military strikes on Iran triggered uncertainty across trade routes. Haryana plays a central role in India’s basmati rice trade. Iran is India’s second-largest basmati rice market after Saudi Arabia. India exported around 1 million tonnes of basmati rice to Iran in the 2024–25 financial year, which ended in March. Overall, India exported about 6 million tonnes of basmati rice during 2024–25, with demand largely coming from the Middle East and West Asia.

Source: The Telegraph March 01, 2026 12:02 UTC