Bhubaneswar, March 2 -- India's rice exports are facing uncertainty as escalating military tensions in West Asia disrupt shipping and payments to key markets, including Iran, Afghanistan, and other Gulf countries. Exporters have raised concerns about delayed payments and stalled shipments, particularly for basmati rice, which accounts for nearly half of India's exports to five West Asian nations - Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, the UAE, and Yemen.

Following the US-Israel strike on Iran on Saturday, fears of wider regional instability and potential restrictions on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz have intensified. The Indian Rice Exporters Federation (IREF) advised members to avoid entering new 'cost, insurance, and freight' (CIF) contrac...