Trade has been a part of human existence since times immemorial, and when it comes to staple commodities like food, its exchange has been done since humans existed. The only difference is initially it was local, then it turned global with the advent of technologies like ships. Approximately 80 to 90% of the global trade is carried through ships according to an estimate.

There is no doubt that India is an undisputed leader when it comes to global basmati rice exports. In fact, it is one of the most magnificent region-specific grains that enjoys the geographical indication tag. India’s basmati rice export story unequivocally continues to dominate global agri trade headlines. In the financial year 2024–25, India exported approximately 6.065 million metric tonnes (MT) of basmati rice, which is a testament to its global stature in the basmati rice trade.