India’s rice exports are witnessing a sharp surge from ports along the west coast, while shipments from eastern terminals remain comparatively subdued.
According to trade sources, major ports such as Mundra, Kandla, and Nhava Sheva have seen a significant rise in export volumes, driven by robust demand from markets in Africa and the Middle East. Efficient connectivity and larger handling capacities at these ports have further boosted cargo movement.
In contrast, eastern ports including Kolkata, Haldia, and Paradip reported relatively lower activity. Exporters attribute this slowdown to infrastructure bottlenecks, longer vessel turnaround times, and weaker demand from Southeast Asian buyers.
Logistics operators noted that exporters are increasingly preferring the west coast due to faster shipping routes to high-demand destinations and better availability of container space.
Industry observers expect the west-east divide in rice exports to continue in the coming months, unless trade flows from Bangladesh and Southeast Asia pick up, giving eastern ports a boost.