Rice exports from India in August fell 29% year-on-year to 644,249 tonnes.
One of the main reasons was weak import demand from African countries for non-basmati rice.
“West African countries have imported a lot from China and don’t need to buy huge volumes now,” said the vice president of Olam India’s rice business.
India is the biggest rice exporter in the world, but exports have plunged 27% in the first five months of the year.
Iran has been the biggest importer of India’s basmati rice, but has almost stopped imports in the last few weeks as it harvests its own crop.