Import Non-Basmati Rice from India to Nepal
Alstoe India Exports supplies Parmal, PR 26, Sona Masoori and IR 64 non-basmati rice to Nepali importers, wholesalers and mills through a strong network of verified suppliers across India's rice belts. Every order is milled and packed to your specification and moves by truck or rail through Birgunj, Biratnagar, Bhairahawa and the other border points, with the DGFT quantity registration, quality documents and Nepal-ready paperwork handled end to end.
Why Nepal buys non-basmati rice from India
Nepal needs around 4 million tonnes of rice a year to feed its population, and domestic production does not cover it. The shortfall comes almost entirely from India, the only supplier that can put rice into Nepal by truck and rail across an open land border, invoiced and settled in Indian rupees. At the peak in India's 2021-22 fiscal year, Nepal imported about 1.4 million tonnes of Indian rice, of which roughly 1.38 million tonnes was non-basmati, the highest on record.
The lane then showed why policy tracking matters. When India banned non-basmati white rice exports in 2023, Nepal's imports collapsed to about 812,000 tonnes in 2022-23 and the government had to negotiate a special quota of 95,000 tonnes, channelled through a designated Indian agency with a 5,000-tonne cap per Nepali firm. Prices in Nepal jumped within days of the ban. That era is over: Indian non-basmati exports are fully open again, the export duty and minimum export price are gone, and the only standing condition is APEDA contract registration for each export, plus quantity registration with the DGFT regional authority when cargo moves through a land customs station on the Indo-Nepal border. Both are exporter-side steps we complete.
Demand inside Nepal runs on everyday table rice: fine and medium grains for households and kirana retail, long grain for wholesale and institutional supply, and steam and sella forms where a firmer cook is wanted. Middle-income demand for finer rice keeps growing faster than Nepali production, which keeps the import lane structurally busy year after year.
At Alstoe India Exports, we treat Nepal-bound rice as a border-logistics product first and a commodity second. We match the variety and broken grade to your market, fix the specification in writing, register the quantities the land route requires, and hand your customs agent a document set that clears at Birgunj or Biratnagar without questions, as part of our full non-basmati rice range.
The ban era is over, and we track what replaces it
India's non-basmati export ban, quota system and export duty that squeezed Nepal in 2023 and 2024 have all been removed. What remains is procedural: APEDA contract registration per export, and DGFT quantity registration for land customs stations on the Nepal border. We complete both and state the current policy position on every quote, so you hear about any change from us first, not at the border gate.
Non-basmati varieties we supply to Nepal
Nepali channels buy by grain and cook: fine and medium rice for households and retail, long grain for wholesale volume, steam and sella where a firm, separate cook is wanted. We supply four varieties from the current crop, matched to your market against approved samples.
| Variety | Crop | Available Forms | Best For in Nepal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sona MasooriHousehold Staple | 2025 | Raw, Steam | Fine-rice retail and households across the hills and Kathmandu valley |
| Parmal | 2025 | Raw, Steam, Sella, Golden Sella | Everyday long grain for wholesale, kirana distribution and mills |
| PR 26 | 2025 | Raw, Steam, Sella, Golden Sella | Hotels, caterers and buyers wanting firm, separate grains |
| IR 64 | 2025 | Raw, Sella | Bulk wholesale, institutional and price-led volume supply |
Non-pesticide Parmal is available on request for buyers who need the cleanest residue profile. Crop year is declared per lot, broken percentage and sortex finish are agreed against approved samples, and broken rice as a standalone product remains subject to Indian export restrictions, confirmed per shipment.
Stocking aromatic rice as well? See our basmati rice range for the retail and festive segments Nepali buyers increasingly ask for.
Broken percentage: the spec that sets the price
For non-basmati rice, broken percentage is the single most important commercial specification. It sets the price tier and the end use, and it is where careless suppliers cost importers real money.
Up to 5% broken grains, mostly whole and intact. The grade for branded retail packs and quality-led fine-rice supply, and the highest non-basmati price tier.
The workhorse bulk grade balancing price and quality, dominant in wholesale, mill and institutional buying across the Terai and the hills.
Colour-sorted at either grade to remove discoloured grains and foreign matter, for retail brands and quality-sensitive buyers; regular mill grades serve the most price-driven bulk.
The agreed percentage is fixed in writing on the order confirmation and verified on the Certificate of Analysis for every lot, with third-party inspection at loading on request.
What Nepal requires, and who handles what
The Nepal side of this trade is land-border trade under the India-Nepal treaty framework. Here is the split between what you set up once as the importer, what happens per consignment, and what we handle from India.
Your side, set up once (Nepali importer)
- Business registrationRegistered firm or company in Nepal
- Tax registrationPAN and VAT with the Inland Revenue Department
- Customs identityEXIM code from the Department of Customs
- BankingImport through a bank per Nepal Rastra Bank rules
- ClearanceAppoint a customs agent at your border point
Per consignment (shared)
- Levies at customsAgriculture reform fee + advance income tax, per current Finance Act
- Food qualityDFTQC checks on food consignments at entry
- Plant healthPhytosanitary certificate accepted at quarantine
- SettlementIndian rupees through banking channels
- DeclarationFiled by your customs agent at the border
Two things make Nepal different from sea-freight markets. First, the levy structure: under the treaty framework, Indian agricultural goods enter without the normal customs duty, and Nepal instead applies an agriculture reform fee plus advance income tax, at rates the Finance Act revises, so the applicable percentage is confirmed with your customs agent before pricing a consignment. Second, the land route itself: exports through land customs stations on the Indo-Nepal border require the exporter to register quantities with the designated DGFT regional authority, a step we complete before loading so trucks are never held at the gate for a registration that should have been done in India.
What we hold in India
IEC from the DGFT, APEDA registration, APEDA contract registration for every non-basmati export, and DGFT quantity registration for land-route consignments. FSSAI, HACCP and ISO certifications are held across the supplier and manufacturer network.
What we test before despatch
Every lot is lab-tested for broken percentage, moisture and admixture against your agreed specification, with a Certificate of Analysis per lot and fumigation done to certified standards.
What travels with the cargo
Invoice and packing list in Indian rupees, certificate of origin, phytosanitary certificate, fumigation certificate and quality certificate, matched to your LC or banking documents word for word.
Six sourcing risks and how we remove them
Policy whiplash on the Indian side
This lane has lived through an export ban, a quota with per-firm caps, and an export duty, each of which repriced consignments overnight and stranded plans.
Current policy stated on every quote
Exports are open today, and we quote against the exact current position, APEDA contract registration and land-route quantity registration included, and flag pending changes we see before they reach the border.
Levy assumptions that break the margin
The agriculture reform fee and advance income tax are revised in Nepal's Finance Act, so a consignment priced on last season's rates can land at different economics.
Rates confirmed before you commit
We time quotes so you confirm the current levy with your customs agent before the order is fixed, and the confirmation is built into the purchase timeline, not discovered at clearance.
Broken percentage higher than agreed
A lot sold as 5% broken arrives at 15 to 25%. Since broken percentage sets the price, the drift quietly transfers money from buyer to seller and degrades your resale quality.
Broken grade locked and lab verified
The agreed percentage is fixed in writing on the order confirmation and verified on the Certificate of Analysis for every lot, with third-party inspection at loading on request.
Moisture trouble in monsoon movement
Rice above safe moisture cakes and moulds on humid border transits, and you paid rice prices for water weight.
Moisture certified at safe levels
Moisture is tested and certified, typically at a maximum of 14%, on the Certificate of Analysis for every consignment, with bagging suited to the season and route.
Queues and holds at the border gate
Birgunj in particular congests at peak, and a truck missing its land-route quantity registration or a document mismatch sits at the gate accruing cost.
Registration done, route flexibility kept
Quantity registration is completed before loading, documents are released early to your agent, and we can route via Biratnagar, Bhairahawa or rail to Birgunj ICD when one crossing jams.
Document discrepancies stall banking and clearance
A mismatch between the LC or banking documents, the invoice and the certificates means refusals, amendments and delay on both sides of the border.
One consistent, INR-invoiced set
Invoice, packing list, transport document, origin, phytosanitary, fumigation and quality certificates are prepared in Indian rupees to match your bank's requirements word for word, checked before the truck moves.
Border points, trucks and rail into Nepal
| Route | Entry Points | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Truck via central border | Raxaul to Birgunj | Kathmandu valley and central Nepal, the busiest corridor |
| Truck via eastern border | Jogbani to Biratnagar, Panitanki to Kakarbhitta | Eastern Terai and hill markets |
| Truck via western border | Sunauli to Bhairahawa, Rupaidiha to Nepalgunj | Western Terai, Pokhara and mid-west distribution |
| Rail | Container and wagon movements to Birgunj ICD (Sirsiya) | Bulk contracts where per-tonne cost matters most |
Transit is measured in days, not weeks: loading, the land-route quantity registration, and the queue at the chosen gate set the timeline, and consignments clear against the levies in force with DFTQC checks on food cargo at entry. Route and border point are fixed per order to match your warehouse and market.
Packing matched to your channel
Materials and options: PP woven bags from 5 kg to 50 kg with custom branding, and labelling in English and Nepali proofed before print. Pack weights and artwork are confirmed at order.
Nepali buyer categories we support
Importers and Wholesalers
Volume buyers distributing across the Terai and into the hills, needing dependable repeat supply at a stable specification.
Best fit: Parmal or IR 64, 25% broken, 50 kgFine-Rice Retail and Kirana Distribution
Brands and distributors serving household demand for fine and medium rice in consumer packs.
Best fit: Sona Masoori raw, 5% sortex, 5 to 20 kgRice Mills and Repackers
Mills and packers topping up local supply between harvests with imported grades at volume.
Best fit: IR 64 or Parmal, bulk, rail to Birgunj ICDHotels, Caterers and Institutions
Buyers wanting firm, separate grains that hold on the buffet line and in volume cooking.
Best fit: PR 26 golden sella, 25 kgHow to import non-basmati rice from India
Send Enquiry
Share variety, broken grade, quantity, border point and packing, plus LC or advance preference.
Receive Quote
FOB-border, CPT or CIP pricing in Indian rupees within 24 hours, quoted against the current policy and levy position.
Approve Sample
Pre-order sample so you verify grain, broken percentage and finish before committing.
Milling, QC, Registration
Milling, sortex grading where agreed, lab testing, fumigation and packing, with APEDA contract registration and the land-route quantity registration completed before loading.
Despatch and Clearance
Trucks or rail move on schedule with the full document set released early, supporting clearance and DFTQC checks at your border point.
Export documents with every shipment
Certificate of Analysis (COA)
Lab results per lot: broken percentage, moisture, admixture and grain profile
Phytosanitary Certificate
Issued by Plant Quarantine India, presented at Nepali quarantine
Fumigation Certificate
Pest-free certification for every consignment
Certificate of Origin
Confirms Indian origin under the India-Nepal treaty framework
Invoice and Packing List
Prepared in Indian rupees, matched to your LC or banking documents
Transport Document
Truck consignment note or railway receipt by route
APEDA Contract Registration
Completed by us for every non-basmati export, as required since September 2025
DGFT Quantity Registration
Land-route registration with the designated regional authority, done before loading
Quality / Inspection Certificate
Against the agreed specification, third-party at loading on request
Request a Nepal rice export quote
Share your requirement and we respond within 24 hours with suitable varieties, broken grade options, border-point and packing recommendations, and clear commercial next steps.
Nepal rice import questions, answered
What does a Nepali importer need to import rice from India?
A registered firm or company with PAN and VAT registration, an EXIM code from Nepal's Department of Customs, banking arrangements per Nepal Rastra Bank rules, and a customs agent at your border point. Food consignments pass DFTQC checks at entry, and the levies in force are paid at customs.
Is Indian non-basmati rice currently free for export to Nepal?
Yes. The export ban, quota system and export duty that disrupted this lane in 2023 and 2024 have all been removed. Two procedural steps remain, both on the exporter's side: APEDA contract registration for each export, and quantity registration with the designated DGFT regional authority when cargo moves through a land customs station on the Indo-Nepal border. We complete both before loading.
What duty applies on rice imports into Nepal from India?
Under the India-Nepal treaty framework, Indian agricultural goods enter without the normal customs duty. Nepal instead applies an agriculture reform fee plus an advance income tax at customs, at rates the annual Finance Act revises, so the applicable percentage is confirmed with your customs agent against the current tariff before a consignment is priced.
Which border points are used for rice into Nepal?
Raxaul to Birgunj is the busiest corridor, serving Kathmandu and central Nepal, with rail and container movements into Birgunj ICD at Sirsiya. Jogbani to Biratnagar and Panitanki to Kakarbhitta serve the east, and Sunauli to Bhairahawa and Rupaidiha to Nepalgunj serve the west. The border point is fixed per order to match your warehouse and market.
How is payment handled for India to Nepal rice trade?
Trade is invoiced and settled in Indian rupees through banking channels, on a letter of credit or advance payment per Nepal Rastra Bank requirements. The export documents are prepared to match your bank's terms word for word, which is what keeps both banking and border clearance smooth.
How much rice does Nepal import from India?
Nepal needs around 4 million tonnes of rice a year and covers the shortfall from India. Imports peaked at about 1.4 million tonnes in India's 2021-22 fiscal year, almost all non-basmati, fell to about 812,000 tonnes during India's export restrictions, and the lane has been fully open again since the ban and duty were removed.
Which non-basmati varieties do Nepali buyers usually import?
Sona Masoori leads household and fine-rice retail demand, Parmal and IR 64 carry wholesale and institutional volume, and PR 26 in steam and sella serves hotels and caterers wanting a firm, separate cook. Variety, broken percentage and finish are agreed against approved samples.
What is the minimum order quantity?
Our standard minimum is one full truckload, with container and rail movements to Birgunj ICD at approximately 25 to 27 tonnes per container. Tell us your target quantity and border point and we confirm the workable structure.
How fast can a shipment reach Nepal?
This is the fastest lane in the rice trade: transit is measured in days. Loading, the land-route quantity registration and the queue at the chosen border gate set the timeline, and we release documents early so clearance is ready when the truck arrives.
How do I verify an Indian rice exporter before ordering?
Check the IEC and APEDA registration, ask how they handle APEDA contract registration and the DGFT land-route quantity registration, how they lock broken percentage and moisture in writing, and whether every lot ships with a Certificate of Analysis. Approve a physical sample first, and start with a trial truckload before scaling.
Ready to source rice for Nepal?
Share your variety, broken grade, quantity and border point. We respond within 24 hours with a detailed quotation in Indian rupees, sample availability and clear commercial next steps. Orders on letter of credit or advance payment.