New Delhi, Aug. 10 -- Global rice production is projected to decline by 9 million metric tonnes to 536.4 million tonnes in the 2026-27 marketing year as a potentially strong El Nino, rising input costs and geopolitical tensions threaten crops, according to S&P Global projections cited by the Indian Rice Exporters' Federation (IREF).

The outlook comes as weather-related uncertainty affects major rice-producing, exporting and importing countries, including India, Pakistan, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, China, Myanmar and the Philippines.

These countries face varying levels of pressure from possible disruptions during planting and growing periods, changes in acreage, concerns over water availability and increasing production costs, IREF sa...