Export Rice to Saudi Arabia from India
Saudi Arabia buys more Indian rice, by value, than the UAE does in the heading data below. India has no trade agreement with Saudi Arabia in DGFT's list, so the certificate of origin is the non-preferential kind and there is no concession to claim under an Indian agreement.
Official sources checked: 2 Oct 2026
Saudi Arabia buys more Indian rice, by value, than the UAE does in the heading data below. India has no trade agreement with Saudi Arabia in DGFT's list, so the certificate of origin is the non-preferential kind and there is no concession to claim under an Indian agreement.
In FY 2025-26, India's exports to Saudi Arabia of rice (HS 1006) were US$ 1,069.8 million, which is 9.3% of India's total exports of the same products (US$ 11,537.4 million), according to TradeStat.
How much does India export? FY 2025-26
| Product | 2024-25 (US$ million) | 2025-26 (US$ million) | Change | All countries, 2025-26 (US$ million) | Share to Saudi Arabia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HS 1006 | 1,323.1 | 1,069.8 | -19.2% | 11,537.4 | 9.3% |
Trade values are in US$ million for the financial year 2025-26 (April 2025 to March 2026), as published by TradeStat, Department of Commerce (data from DGCI&S) and fetched on 2026-10-02. They can be revised later. Shares and changes are calculated from those figures. Year-on-year change compares 2025-26 with 2024-25.
India-side licences and registrations for rice
| Licence | Issued by | Main official fee |
|---|---|---|
| IEC code (Importer Exporter Code) | DGFT, Ministry of Commerce | ₹500Checked on official page Source |
| APEDA RCMC | Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority | ₹5,900 (₹5,000 + 18% GST)Checked on official page Source |
| AD code (Authorised Dealer code) | Your bank gives the code; Customs registers it on ICEGATE | No amount shownTo confirm Source |
| GST LUT (Form GST RFD-11) | GST Department (filed on the GST portal) | No amount shownTo confirm Source |
| Phytosanitary certificate and import permit | Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage (DPPQS) | See DPPQSTo confirm Source |
| Certificate of origin (e-CoO) | Agencies authorised by DGFT (chambers, EPCs and others) | ₹200Checked on official page Source |
Fees and rules change and can differ between offices. Confirm the fee on the official portal before you pay. Amounts marked To confirm could not be checked on an official page.
Policy check
DGFT's export schedule (2021 edition) shows seed-quality rice and paddy as Restricted. Read the current policy for your 8-digit code before you sign a contract.
DGFT's lists we read: restricted imports (2019), prohibited imports (2019), export schedule (2021). Current policy: DGFT policy search. HS chapter details: Chapter 10: Cereals.
Trade agreement and certificate of origin
No bilateral trade agreement in DGFT's list. DGFT's Appendix 2A and the Handbook of Procedures list no free trade or preferential agreement with Saudi Arabia.
Without a preferential agreement, exporters use the non-preferential certificate of origin (₹200) when the buyer or the Saudi side asks for it.
DGFT Appendix 2A: list of Free Trade Agreements and Preferential Trade Agreements DGFT Handbook of Procedures, Chapter 2 (July 2026 edition)
Steps for this route
- Get your IEC from DGFT (IEC guide). Fee ₹500.
- Register your bank's AD code on ICEGATE (AD code guide).
- Confirm with the buyer which certificates the Saudi side requires and who issues them.
- Ask your bank to confirm the payment term (advance, letter of credit or collection) and keep the e-BRC for realisation.
- File the shipping bill on ICEGATE with your IEC and AD code.
- File the shipping bill on ICEGATE and keep the e-BRC after you are paid (export guide).