The Bharat International Rice Conference (BIRC) 2026 has scheduled 2,038 business-to-business (B2B) meetings ahead of its opening this week, as India’s rice industry looks to strengthen international trade ties amid changing global prices and demand patterns.
Organised by the Indian Rice Exporters’ Federation (IREF), the three-day conference will take place from October 23 to 25 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. According to the organisers, the event has received 4,649 buyer registrations from more than 150 countries, including Kuwait, South Africa, Benin, Nigeria, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
Exhibition space has been fully booked for the second consecutive year, with more than 180 companies expected to participate across Halls 4 and 5. The scheduled B2B meetings have been facilitated through the conference’s digital platform, with EY coordinating one-to-one interactions between Indian suppliers and potential overseas buyers.
Participants represent several of India’s major rice-producing and trading states, including Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
Dev Garg, national vice president of IREF, said the strong domestic participation, coupled with rising interest from international buyers, was among the most encouraging aspects of BIRC 2026.
He noted that nearly 91 per cent of registrations reflected in the conference’s state-wise data came from outside Delhi. Maharashtra accounted for 13.1 per cent of registrations, followed by Delhi at 9.2 per cent. Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal each contributed 8.4 per cent, while Gujarat accounted for 8.2 per cent, Tamil Nadu 6.2 per cent, Madhya Pradesh 5.2 per cent and Karnataka 5.1 per cent.
According to Garg, the figures highlight the conference’s extensive reach across India. He added that the primary objective is to bring together participants from across the domestic rice industry and international buyers to create meaningful business opportunities.
Knowledge Sessions to Examine Global Rice Market Trends
BIRC 2026 will feature nine knowledge sessions on October 23 and 24, covering key issues such as global rice supply and demand, export opportunities, shipping costs, payment risks, quality standards and government policies.
The opening session, titled “Global Rice Demand and Supply Outlook 2027: Price Crash or New Bull Run?”, will bring together experts from S&P Global, BigMint, EY and IREF. Discussions will focus on prevailing market conditions and possible rice price movements under bullish, base-case and bearish scenarios.
The conference will also announce its list of the Top 10 Rice Markets to Watch in 2027. The assessment will identify promising destinations for Indian basmati and non-basmati rice, considering factors such as demand potential, competition, pricing, market access and payment risks.
Other sessions will address export payments and insurance, certification requirements, sustainability, rice-milling profitability and value-added products. These discussions are designed to equip exporters and processors with market insights and practical information to support business planning, investment and commercial decisions.
Global Rice Archive and Rice Festival Among Key Attractions
Beyond business meetings and industry discussions, the conference will showcase rice diversity through a Global Rice Archive featuring approximately 200 varieties from India and other countries.
A Rice Festival scheduled for October 25 will celebrate the international culinary appeal of rice. The programme will feature cuisines from more than 50 countries, over 25 varieties of biryani, chef competitions, cultural performances and activities for families.
The festival will also highlight business opportunities throughout the rice value chain, with a focus on specialty rice varieties and value-added products.
BIRC 2026 Aims to Build on Previous Edition’s Success
The inaugural edition of BIRC in 2025 attracted 10,854 visitors, including 1,083 international buyers from more than 90 countries, according to the organisers.
An assessment conducted by EY after the event reported business commitments worth Rs 33,453 crore, covering approximately 8.63 million tonnes of rice.
The 2026 edition aims to build on this foundation by attracting a larger international buyer base and facilitating more than 2,000 scheduled business meetings. While the registration figures and meeting schedule indicate substantial planned engagement, the organisers have not announced a comparable forecast for business commitments this year.
BIRC 2026 will run from October 23 to 25 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The knowledge sessions will also be livestreamed, enabling a wider audience to follow the discussions on the global rice trade and market outlook.
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