Non-basmati rice exports from the country are likely to be around 40 lakh tonnes during the current season ending September. The hopes are against shipments of 39 lakh tonnes last season and if one were to add basmati exports, then total exports could be around 50 lakh tonnes.

According to the All-India Rice Exporters Association (AIREA), basmati exports totalled 11.6 lakh tonnes during 2005-06 against 11.2 lakh tonnes the previous year.

Exports of 39 lakh tonnes during 2005-06 were against a production of 917.9 lakh tonnes, just about four per cent.