KANPUR, July 9 -- The ongoing conflict in West Asia has significantly disrupted rice exports from Uttar Pradesh, resulting in plummeting demand, stalled payments, and sharp price declines. Exporters and rice mill owners report that prices of both Basmati and non-Basmati rice have dropped by over 30%, while payment channels to key buyers like Iran remain severely affected.

Exporters say that demand from West Asia has fallen sharply as importers have halted purchases amid the conflict.

Anand Kumar Gupta from Bindki and Manoj Gandhi from Fatehpur town, both traders with large export operations, said that they earlier exported rice milled directly from local paddy to West Asian buyers. "With exports halted, the demand has plummeted while pr...