Bahrain Gulf News reported on July 22, India, the world's largest rice exporter, has announced an immediate ban on the export of white rice (except basmati), a decision that could lead to a rise in global rice prices.

India's ministry of consumer affairs, food and public distribution said in a statement that the ban should help ensure supplies for Indian consumers and "mitigate price increases in the domestic market". Exports of white rice (excluding basmati rice) from India rose 35 percent year-on-year in the second quarter, the report added. In September 2022, India banned the export of cheap broken rice and imposed a 20% tax on high-quality rice exports after a severe drought in India's main rice-producing areas. International prices of rice, the world's main staple food, have risen sharply due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and the impact of the El Niño weather phenomenon on rice production. India's white rice exports (excluding basmati rice) account for about a quarter of its total rice exports. Last year, the country exported 10.3 million tonnes of non-basmati rice.

Grow Intelligence warned that India's decision could "exacerbate food insecurity in countries heavily dependent on rice imports", with African countries, Turkey, Syria and Pakistan expected to be affected by the ban and face sharp increases in food prices.