Rice Industry Eyes Billions in Value-Added Products

India's rice industry is poised for growth beyond traditional raw grain exports. The Bharat International Rice Conference (BIRC) 2026, set to take place in New Delhi from October 23-25, will explore opportunities in value-added products such as rice-based noodles, edible oil, protein, and industrial materials.

The conference's session on 'Beyond Raw Rice: The Next Billion-Dollar Opportunity' will conclude with an assessment by IREF-EY identifying the most promising products based on market demand, margins, investment requirements, and export potential.

Global markets for rice-derived products are expanding, with the global rice-noodle market projected to rise from $6.4 billion in 2024 to $11 billion by 2030, according to Grand View Research. The rice-bran-oil market is forecast to increase from $4.8 billion in 2023 to $6.3 billion by 2030.

The industry is also looking at emerging opportunities in specialized ingredients, with the global rice-protein market projected to grow from $168.5 million in 2023 to $281.4 million by 2030. The conference will examine rice protein alongside rice flour and functional starches, focusing on processing requirements, customer specifications, and commercially viable production.