1121 Basmati Rice Exporter from India
1121 and Pusa basmati — extra-long grain, sortex-cleaned, aged to specification, shipped worldwide.
Quick answer: Green Plus EXIM exports 1121 and Pusa basmati rice from India — steam, sella (parboiled), golden sella and raw, with 1121 averaging 8.30–8.40mm grain length before cooking. Saudi Arabia, Iran and Iraq are the largest destination markets (APEDA, 2025-26); India's 2025-26 basmati exports totalled 6.52 million MT, worth US$5.67 billion. Packed in 5–50kg bags or buyer private label. MOQ one 20ft container.
1121 and Pusa basmati from India
India exported 6.52 million MT of basmati rice worth US$5.67 billion in 2025-26 (APEDA), and the trade concentrates on a handful of varieties. 1121 is the benchmark for extra-long grain — averaging 8.30–8.40mm before cooking, with the post-cooking elongation that Middle Eastern biryani and pulao cooking demands. Pusa varieties (1509, 1401) sit slightly shorter and lower-priced, and cover a large share of volume demand.
We supply raw, steam, sella and golden sella in both, sortex-cleaned, with aging specified to contract.
How do I specify basmati properly?
"Basmati, good quality" is not a specification. The parameters that actually determine what lands in your warehouse are:
- Variety — 1121 vs Pusa vs traditional. This is the biggest price driver.
- Processing — raw, steam, sella or golden sella. These cook differently and are not interchangeable.
- Average grain length — stated in mm, before cooking.
- Broken percentage — 1%, 2% or 5% are the common contract levels.
- Moisture — ≤12–13%. Higher moisture means you're paying for water and risking storage problems.
- Purity — the percentage of the stated variety in the lot, typically 92–95%.
- Aging — 12 or 24 months, if required.
Give us those seven and we can quote precisely. Leave them vague and every quote you receive from any exporter will be comparing different things.
Which markets buy Indian basmati?
Basmati demand is concentrated in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia is the largest single market, followed by Iran and Iraq, with the UAE, Yemen and the United States also taking substantial volume. The table below gives the reported figures with their source and a note on how they were converted and what they do and don't cover.
Shipping to one of our top basmati markets specifically? See the dedicated route page for Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the UAE, Yemen or the USA — each covers the grade expectations, routing and documentation specific to that market.
Basmati export pricing
Basmati prices move with paddy procurement costs, aging inventory, currency, and demand cycles in the Gulf (Ramadan procurement in particular shifts timing). We quote current FOB or CIF prices against your exact specification with a stated validity window — send your requirement to get one.
Not sure whether to order 1121 or Pusa? See our 1121 vs Pusa Basmati comparison for the full breakdown. First time ordering basmati? Our contract-to-port import guide covers the APEDA RCAC registration, payment terms and destination documentation step by step.
Key facts
- Varieties: 1121 Basmati (8.30–8.40mm), Pusa 1509/1401, traditional basmati
- HS code: 1006.30 (semi-milled or wholly milled rice)
- Processing: raw, steam, sella, golden sella
- Packed 5–50 kg bags or private-label retail packs; ~24–26 MT per 20ft
- India's basmati exports: 6.52 million MT, US$5.67 billion, 2025-26 (APEDA)
- Leading markets: Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, UAE, Yemen, USA
- Available year-round from stored and aged paddy
Step 1 of 2 — takes 60 seconds
1121 Basmati Rice specifications
| Parameter | Typical specification |
|---|---|
| Varieties | 1121 Basmati, Pusa Basmati (1509/1401), Traditional Basmati on request |
| Processing types | Raw, Steam, Sella (parboiled), Golden Sella |
| Average grain length (1121) | 8.30–8.40 mm (before cooking) |
| Average grain length (Pusa) | 7.80–8.20 mm typical |
| Moisture | ≤ 12–13% |
| Broken grains | ≤ 1%, 2% or 5% — buyer-specified |
| Damaged / discoloured | ≤ 1–2% typical |
| Foreign matter | ≤ 0.1% (sortex-cleaned) |
| Aging | 12–24 months aged available; aging improves elongation and reduces stickiness |
| Purity | 92–95% typical, per contract |
Typical specs — final specifications as per contract. Tell us your required grade when you request a quote and we'll confirm availability.
Packaging & container loading
| Detail | Options |
|---|---|
| Packaging | 5 kg, 10 kg, 20 kg, 25 kg, 40 kg and 50 kg PP/BOPP/jute bags; non-woven and cloth bags; private-label retail packs available |
| Minimum order quantity | 1 × 20ft container; trial orders discussed |
| Loading capacity (20ft) | Approx. 24–26 MT in a 20ft container |
| Loading capacity (40ft) | Approx. 26–28 MT in a 40ft container (weight-limited) |
| Shelf life & storage | 18–24 months in cool, dry storage away from strong odours; aged basmati continues to improve in cooking quality with proper storage |
Loading figures are typical estimates — use the 1121 basmati rice container load estimator for a planning figure, and confirm exact figures with us before booking.
Availability calendar
Typical availability for 1121 basmati rice from India, by month:
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
Availability shifts year to year with weather and growing conditions — ask for current availability before planning a shipment window.
Where India exports basmati rice
India's top destination markets for basmati rice (HS 1006 30 (basmati rice, milled)), 2025-26. India exported $5,670,000,000 of basmati rice worldwide that year:
| Destination country | Share of India's basmati rice exports |
|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | 16.6% |
| Iran | 13.9% |
| Iraq | 11.2% |
| United Arab Emirates | 8.2% |
| Yemen | 5.7% |
| United States | 5% |
Source: APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority) — Basmati Rice product page, exports 2025-26 — view source. Data year: 2025-26. Retrieved: 2026-09-30.
Notes on this data
PRIMARY SOURCE — APEDA's own Basmati Rice page (retrieved 2026-09-30): 'The country has exported 6.52 million MTs of Basmati Rice to the world during the year 2025-26, valued at Rs. 50,138.28 Crores/ US$ 5.67 billion. Major Export Destinations (2025-26): Saudi Arabia (16.6%), Iran (13.9%), Iraq (11.2%), UAE (8.2%), Yemen (5.7%), and USA (5.0%).' APEDA publishes destination shares, not per-country dollar values, so no per-country USD value is shown here and none has been derived. The six named destinations together account for 60.6% of the total; the rest goes to markets outside this list. Basmati is a national 8-digit tariff line within HS 1006 30, so 6-digit WITS/UN Comtrade data for 100630 (which includes non-basmati milled rice) is not a substitute. This file previously cited 2024-25 figures as republished by a rice-trade news site; that secondary citation was replaced with APEDA's primary figures on 2026-09-30.
Indian sourcing regions
Basmati is grown in India's Indo-Gangetic plain under GI protection — Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, western Uttar Pradesh and parts of Jammu & Kashmir. Harvest is October–December, but milling, aging and export run year-round from stored paddy, which is why basmati supply doesn't have the seasonal gaps fresh produce does.
Export documentation
Export documentation prepared to match destination-country and buyer requirements — phytosanitary certificate, certificate of origin, fumigation certificate, lab test reports and more, as applicable.
- Phytosanitary certificate
- Certificate of origin
- Fumigation certificate
- Lab test / certificate of analysis (moisture, broken %, purity) on request
- Commercial invoice, packing list and bill of lading
Share your compliance checklist and we will confirm the documentation for your shipment. Third-party inspection (SGS, Bureau Veritas, Intertek or your nominated agency) can be arranged on request.
Get a quote for 1121 Basmati Rice
Tell us your specs — get a quote within 24 business hours.
1121 Basmati Rice export FAQs
1121 has the longer grain — typically 8.30–8.40mm average before cooking, with exceptional post-cooking elongation, which is why it dominates Middle East demand for biryani-style dishes. Pusa varieties (1509, 1401) are slightly shorter and generally price lower, making them popular where cost matters more than maximum grain length.
Sella is parboiled basmati — paddy is soaked, steamed and dried before milling. The grain is firmer, separates well when cooked and has a lower breakage rate. Golden sella is parboiled with a longer steaming that gives the characteristic golden colour. Steam rice is a lighter treatment than sella; raw is untreated.
Aged basmati absorbs less water, elongates more when cooked and is less sticky. 12–24 month aged stock commands a premium for that reason. Tell us the aging you need — it's a genuine specification, not marketing.
Roughly 24–26 MT in a 20ft and 26–28 MT in a 40ft. Rice loading is weight-limited, so a 20ft is often the practical unit.
Yes — private-label retail packs (typically 1kg, 5kg, 10kg) are a common request. See our private label and bulk supply page for how that works.
Parboiled non-basmati is available. Note that India's export policy on non-basmati white rice has been restrictive — we confirm what is currently permitted at the time of your enquiry rather than quoting against an assumed policy.
Saudi Arabia (16.6% of India's basmati exports in 2025-26), Iran (13.9%) and Iraq (11.2%) are the three largest, with the UAE (8.2%), Yemen (5.7%) and the United States (5.0%) also significant (APEDA). India's basmati exports totalled 6.52 million MT, worth US$5.67 billion, in 2025-26 (APEDA).
One 20ft container. Trial quantities can be discussed for a first order.
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Step 1 of 2 — takes 60 seconds