New Delhi, May 15 -- India is poised to export approximately 24 million tonnes of rice in the 2025-26 marketing year (October-September), potentially capturing around 40 per cent of global rice trade, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

This optimistic projection is underpinned by India's substantial foodgrain reserves, estimated at 66.16 million tonnes as of April 27, 2025.

The USDA forecasts India's rice production in 2025 to reach a record high for the tenth consecutive year, despite a slight decline in harvested area.

Notably, the 2024-25 Kharif season's rice output was estimated at 121 million tonnes, marking a nearly 7 per cent increase from the previous year.

The USDA's marketing year spans from October to S...