IR 64 Parboiled Rice Exporter India to West Africa | Alstoe India Exports
APEDA Registered Exporter FSSAI & ISO 9001:2015 Certified Direct mill supply · No paper traders Free Sample · Quote in 24 Hours Cotonou · Abidjan · Lomé · Tema · Dakar Hormuz-free shipping · 22–28 days transit APEDA Registered Exporter FSSAI & ISO 9001:2015 Certified Direct mill supply · No paper traders Free Sample · Quote in 24 Hours Cotonou · Abidjan · Lomé · Tema · Dakar Hormuz-free shipping · 22–28 days transit
🇨🇮 🇧🇯 🇹🇬 🇬🇭 West Africa Rice Specialist

IR 64 Parboiled Rice Exporter
from India to West Africa

Trusted Indian supplier to Côte d'Ivoire, Benin, Togo, Ghana & the Sahel. Direct from mill, on-time at Cotonou, Abidjan, Lomé & Tema ports. APEDA certified · FSSAI · ISO 9001:2015 · Phytosanitary on every shipment.

Request Quote in 24h → View Rice Varieties
Free Sample Dispatch Mill-Direct Supply Hormuz-Free Routes All Varieties Stocked
— West Africa 2026 —
"The market that moves the world's rice."
9M+
MT/Year Imported
87%
India's Share
$5B
Annual Trade
22d
Mundra→Cotonou
🇨🇮 Côte d'Ivoire 🇧🇯 Benin 🇹🇬 Togo 🇬🇭 Ghana 🇸🇳 Senegal 🇧🇫 Burkina Faso
Market Overview

The West African rice market in 2026, at a glance.

West Africa is the world's largest commercial market for Indian parboiled rice. With urban populations growing at over 4% per year and local production unable to match demand, the region imports over 9 million metric tons of rice annually — and India supplies the dominant share.

Country
Annual Imports (2025)
India's Share
Primary Port
🇨🇮Côte d'Ivoire
1.6 M MT (~$722M)
39%
Abidjan
🇧🇯Benin
1.57 M MT (~$1B+)
87%
Cotonou
🇹🇬Togo
410,000 MT
65%
Lomé
🇬🇭Ghana
700,000+ MT
22% ↑
Tema
🌍Burkina · Mali · Niger
800,000+ MT
High
via Cotonou / Lomé
Why India dominates: Indian IR 64 parboiled rice consistently trades $40–60 per MT below Thai parboiled, with comparable quality, faster delivery, and stronger milling capacity. India alone holds 87% market share in raw rice shipments to Côte d'Ivoire, and 87% of Indian IR 64 export volumes flow to West Africa.
⚠ Crisis & Solutions

The crisis every West African importer is facing in 2026.

If you import rice into Cotonou, Abidjan, Lomé, or Tema, you've likely felt one or more of these pressure points in the last 6 months. We address each one below.

Pain Point 01

Benin's New Import Rules — April 2026

Published April 22, 2026 · Cotonou Port

The Benin government's new framework requires every rice importer to:

  • Be established in Benin for at least 3 years
  • Deposit a CFA franc 1 billion (~$1.7 million / Rs. 18 crore) guarantee with the Public Treasury
  • Commit to importing 50,000–100,000 MT per month
  • Show full tax and customs compliance

The result: Hundreds of small importers are being squeezed out of Cotonou. Shipments are on hold. Many are diverting cargo to other West African ports — and looking for suppliers who already have established trade routes.

Our Solution
Alstoe ships across all major West African ports — Cotonou, Lomé, Abidjan, Tema, Dakar, Conakry. If your Cotonou route is blocked, we re-route in 48 hours.
Pain Point 02

The 2025 Supply Glut Hangover

Trend Report · Q4 2025 → Q2 2026

After India removed the 20% rice export duty in October 2024, exporters flooded Benin with 753,000+ MT in just 4 months — a 6× year-on-year surge. Cotonou warehouses are still working through that overstock. Prices crashed to $333/MT (FOB India Parboiled 5%) by late April 2026, the lowest in nearly two years.

The result: Buyers are caught between low local sale prices and unreliable suppliers who promise but don't deliver. They need exporters with predictable pricing, transparent quality grading, and milling-direct supply — not paper traders.

Our Solution
Alstoe partners directly with parboiling mills in Andhra Pradesh and Punjab. No middlemen, no "paper traders". Every spec, every container, milling-direct. Live FOB Mundra prices updated weekly.
Pain Point 03

Strait of Hormuz Crisis Spillover

Active since February 28, 2026

Since February 28, 2026, the Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed due to the US-Iran-Israel conflict. While this primarily affects Gulf-bound cargo, the knock-on effects have hit West Africa too:

  • Insurance premiums up 30–60% on India–Africa routes
  • Some shipping lines re-routing entirely
  • Container availability is tight at Mundra and JNPT
Our Solution
Our freight partners use the direct Suez–Bab al-Mandeb route to West Africa — no Hormuz exposure. Backup Cape of Good Hope routing is available for force-majeure scenarios. Zero shipment cancellations on West Africa contracts in Q1 2026.
Pain Point 04

Côte d'Ivoire's "Self-Sufficiency 2026" Push

Government Strategy · SNDR 2 (2024–2030)

The Ivorian government has officially extended its rice self-sufficiency target to end of 2026, with a $1.3 billion National Strategy for the Development of the Rice Sector. Local production rose from 1.3 million MT (2023) to 1.55 million MT (2024).

The truth: Per capita rice consumption is also rising 20% per decade — currently 84 kg per person per year. The math doesn't add up. Côte d'Ivoire will continue importing 1.5+ million MT annually for at least 5–10 more years.

Our Positioning
While big multinational suppliers exit fearing self-sufficiency, Alstoe is doubling down on long-term Ivorian partnerships. We see the demand reality, not the political headline.
Complete Range

All eight rice varieties West Africa demands. Under one roof.

West Africa has very specific rice preferences. Unlike the Gulf (which prefers premium basmati), West African consumers favour parboiled rice with high cooking volume, golden colour, and firm bite — perfect for jollof, riz au gras, and tomato-stew dishes. We supply every variety required by importers, retailers, distributors, and government tenders.

No. 01

IR 64 Parboiled Rice — 5% Broken

The single most-imported rice variety in West Africa. Used in 70%+ of all jollof rice preparations, daily home meals, and HoReCa kitchens.

  • Grain Length 6.0–6.4 mm
  • Broken 5% max
  • Moisture 12.5–14% max
  • Foreign Matter 0.1% max
  • Damaged Grains 1% max
  • Polish Single / Double Sortex
  • Colour Creamy / Golden
Best For Bulk wholesale · Supermarket retail · HoReCa · Government food distribution
No. 02

IR 64 Parboiled — 25% Broken

The price-sensitive grade for urban low-income markets, school feeding programmes, and institutional buyers across Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso.

  • Broken 25% max
  • Moisture 14% max
  • Foreign Matter 0.2% max
  • Colour Creamy / Light Golden
Best For PDS · Refugee camp tenders · Large-scale catering · NGO procurement
No. 03

IR 64 Parboiled — 100% Sortex

Premium grade for retail-packaged rice (5 kg, 10 kg, 25 kg consumer bags). High-yield head rice, minimum breakage, deep golden tone.

  • Broken 1% max
  • Sortex 100% colour-sorted
  • Moisture 13% max
  • Length 6.4+ mm avg
Best For Branded retail packaging · Supermarket chains · Premium retail in Abidjan, Accra
No. 04

Golden Sella Basmati Rice

For the growing premium segment — Lebanese restaurants, expat retail, hotels, weddings, and Indian/Pakistani diaspora communities in Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal.

  • Variety 1121 Golden Sella
  • Grain Length 8.2–8.4 mm
  • Broken 1% max
  • Pure Basmati 100%
  • Aroma Strong natural
Best For Premium retail · Fine-dining HoReCa · Specialty importers · Hotel chains
No. 05

Long Grain White Rice — 5% Broken

Standard white milled long-grain non-basmati rice for buyers preferring white over parboiled.

  • Length 6.4 mm min
  • Broken 5% max
  • Moisture 14% max
  • Polish Single Sortex
  • Crop Current
Best For Mixed-portfolio importers · Asian community retail · Food service
No. 06

Broken Rice — A1 Super (100%)

For low-income segments, animal feed industries, and processed food manufacturers.

  • Broken 100%
  • Polish Sortex Cleaned
  • Moisture 14% max
Best For Poultry feed · Brewing · Processed foods · Lowest price-point retail
No. 07

Sona Masoori Rice

Light, fragrant, semi-premium variety for South Indian community retail and specialty buyers across West African urban markets.

  • Length 5.0–5.4 mm
  • Broken 5% max
  • Polish Single Sortex
  • Aroma Mild fragrant
Best For Indian diaspora retail · Specialty grocers · Mid-premium segment
No. 08

Custom Variety Sourcing

Need a specific variety not listed? Swarna, Pusa Basmati, Jeera Samba, broken sella, or organic-certified rice? We can source any specification with 14-day lead time.

  • Lead Time 14 days
  • Min Order 1 × 40ft container
  • Organic NPOP / USDA / EU / JAS
Best For Specialty importers · Niche retail · Health-food distributors
Why Alstoe

Our edge over every other Indian rice exporter.

You have a hundred Indian rice exporters knocking on your door. Here's why importers across West Africa choose Alstoe.

1

All Varieties Under One Roof

Most exporters specialise — they sell only basmati or only parboiled. Alstoe is one of the few Indian exporters with active supply chains for every major rice variety West Africa demands. One purchase order, one supplier, multiple grades.

2

Mill-Direct, No Paper Trading

We work directly with parboiling and basmati milling units in Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and West Bengal. Many "exporters" online are actually trading houses with marked-up prices. We aren't.

3

Multi-Port Delivery

We ship to Cotonou, Abidjan, Lomé, Tema, Dakar, Conakry, and Monrovia. One port blocked? We re-route. One country imposes new rules? We pivot.

4

Transparent Pricing

We don't hide prices. Send us your specs, we quote within 24 hours — itemised by FOB Mundra, CFR your-port, and CIF your-port. No bait-and-switch surcharges mid-shipment.

5

Free Pre-Shipment Sample

Before any first order, we dispatch a 1–2 kg verification sample via DHL/FedEx. You inspect quality, cooking elongation, aroma, polish — then commit. No exporter who refuses to send a free sample should be trusted.

6

Hormuz-Free Shipping

While other exporters scramble during Gulf supply disruptions, our direct Mundra → Suez → Bab al-Mandeb → West African ports routing has zero Hormuz exposure.

7

Full Documentation

Every shipment includes APEDA RCMC, Phytosanitary, Fumigation, Origin Form A, FSSAI, ISO 9001, SGS / Bureau Veritas / Cotecna inspection (on request), Halal certification, and full BL package.

8

Custom Packaging

25 kg / 50 kg PP bags · 5 kg / 10 kg branded retail packs · jute · BOPP-laminated for moisture protection. Your private label, our printing partners — digital mock-up in 48 hours.

9

Long-term Partnership

We're not interested in one-off transactions. Most of our West African clients have repeat-ordered for 3+ years. Annual offtake contracts with fixed-price floors and floating ceilings — protecting both sides from market volatility.

Logistics & Shipping

Real transit times. Real shipping lines. Real reliability.

Origin: Mundra Port, Gujarat, India

Mundra is India's largest container port and our primary loading hub for West African shipments. Direct access to all major rice-producing regions: Punjab (basmati), Haryana (parboiled), Andhra Pradesh (IR 64), West Bengal (Sona Masoori).

Major Shipping Lines We Work With

  • MSC
  • CMA CGM
  • Maersk
  • Hapag-Lloyd
  • ZIM

Trade Terms

  • FOB Mundra — you arrange shipping (best for experienced traders)
  • CFR [your port] — we arrange shipping, you arrange insurance (most common)
  • CIF [your port] — fully delivered with insurance (recommended for new buyers)
  • DAP / DDP — door-delivered (case by case for trusted partners)

Container Capacity

  • 20-foot container — ~22 MT (440 × 50 kg bags)
  • 40-foot container — ~26 MT (520 × 50 kg bags)
  • 40-foot HC — ~28 MT (560 × 50 kg bags)
Origin → Destination
Days
Route
Mundra → Cotonou 🇧🇯
22–26
Suez → Bab al-Mandeb
Mundra → Abidjan 🇨🇮
26–30
Suez → Atlantic
Mundra → Lomé 🇹🇬
22–26
Suez → Bab al-Mandeb
Mundra → Tema 🇬🇭
26–30
Suez → Atlantic
Mundra → Dakar 🇸🇳
30–34
Suez → Atlantic
Mundra → Monrovia 🇱🇷
28–32
Suez → Atlantic
Reference Pricing

April–May 2026 price snapshot, FOB Mundra.

Note: Prices fluctuate weekly based on USD/INR, paddy prices, freight rates, and crop conditions. Always request a fresh quote — these are reference indicators only.
Variety
Grade
FOB Mundra (USD/MT)
IR 64 Parboiled
5% Broken
$330–360
IR 64 Parboiled
25% Broken
$295–320
IR 64 Parboiled
100% Sortex
$370–410
Long Grain White
5% Broken
$370–410
Golden Sella Basmati
1% Broken
$850–950
1121 Steam Basmati
1% Broken
$1,050–1,250
Broken Rice
100%
$260–285
Sona Masoori
5% Broken
$440–490

Add to FOB for landed pricing (typical)

  • Freight Mundra → Cotonou $30–55/MT
  • Freight Mundra → Abidjan $40–65/MT
  • Insurance $3–8/MT
  • Inland trucking (where applicable) $20–80/MT
How to Buy

From RFQ to your warehouse — in eight steps.

Total timeline: roughly 45–55 days from contract signature to warehouse delivery in Cotonou, Abidjan, or Lomé.

01

Send Your RFQ

Email or WhatsApp us with variety, quantity, destination port, delivery month, trade terms, and packaging preference.

02

Quote in 24h

Detailed pro-forma invoice with itemised pricing, payment terms, and ETD.

03

Free Sample

For new buyers, we dispatch a 1–2 kg verification sample via DHL/FedEx to your office.

04

Payment Terms

30% T/T advance + 70% against BL copy. Or L/C at sight via your bank.

05

Production & Inspection

Milling, sortex, packing, fumigation. SGS / Bureau Veritas / Cotecna available on request.

06

Shipment & Docs

Container loaded at Mundra. All documents couriered: BL, Packing List, Phyto, Origin, Fumigation, Health, Invoice.

07

Live Tracking

Live container tracking shared. We monitor until safe arrival at your nominated port.

08

Long-term Partnership

After your first successful shipment, we discuss annual contracts, volume discounts, and dedicated account management.

Quality Assurance

Every shipment, fully certified.

Every Alstoe shipment is backed by full government and international certifications.

✓APEDA Registration
✓FSSAI License
✓ISO 9001:2015
✓Phytosanitary Certificate
✓Halal Certified
✓Fumigation IPPC
✓SGS / BV / Cotecna
✓Codex Alimentarius
✓IS 2814:1978 Grading
Frequently Asked

Questions West African importers ask us.

Hands down — IR 64 Parboiled Rice 5% Broken. It's the dominant variety across Côte d'Ivoire, Benin, Togo, Nigeria, Ghana, and the Sahel. Roughly 68% of all Indian IR 64 shipments to Africa go to West Africa. The reason: parboiling preserves nutrients, gives high cooking volume (1 kg cooked rice = 2.5 kg dry), and resists breakage during long ocean transit and humid warehouse storage.
Both are IR 64 parboiled — the colour difference comes from the steaming intensity during the parboiling process. Light steaming = creamy white. Longer steaming = deep golden. West African consumers in Benin and Nigeria slightly prefer the golden tone (visual perception of "better quality"), while Ivorian consumers are split. We can supply either spec — just specify in your order.
Indian IR 64 typically trades $40–80/MT below Thai parboiled with comparable quality. Indian IR 64 swells slightly more (better cost-per-kilo for institutional buyers), tends slightly more golden, gives firmer bite (preferred for jollof), and is more competitive due to scale milling capacity. For volume-driven West African markets, Indian IR 64 is the default winner.
Yes — but only to importers who already hold the new Benin import authorisation. If you're a small importer affected by the CFA franc 1 billion deposit requirement, we recommend two alternatives: (1) Re-route via Lomé (Togo) — only 150 km from Cotonou with easy overland trucking. (2) Partner with an authorised Benin importer — we can introduce you to compliant partners we already ship to. Either way, we keep your rice supply flowing.
One 20-foot container (~22 MT) for first-time buyers. This works out to roughly 440 × 50 kg bags. For repeat partners, we offer flexible MOQs and volume discounts on multi-container orders.
Day 1–3: Quote, sample dispatch, contract finalisation. Day 4–10: Payment, production, milling. Day 11–14: Sortex, packing, fumigation, loading. Day 15: Vessel sailing from Mundra. Day 37–43: Arrival at Cotonou / Lomé / Abidjan. Day 45–48: Customs clearance, delivery to your warehouse. Total: roughly 45–55 days from contract signature to warehouse delivery.
For new buyers — no. We require 30% T/T advance + 70% against BL copy, OR a confirmed L/C at sight. Once we've completed 3–5 shipments together with on-time payments, we discuss D/A and credit terms case-by-case.
Fully supported. Send us your logo and design, we'll prepare a digital mock-up within 48 hours. Print run minimum is typically 1 × 40-foot container (~520 bags). We use BOPP-laminated PP bags for premium retail look with moisture protection.
Multiple ways: visit alstoeindiaexports.com for full company profile · verify our APEDA Registration on apeda.gov.in · request video walkthrough of our partner mills · ask for trade references from existing West African clients · visit us in person in Delhi, India.
No, our West Africa shipments are unaffected. The Strait of Hormuz disruption only impacts Persian Gulf-bound cargo. Our Mundra → West Africa route goes via the Suez Canal and Bab al-Mandeb (Red Sea exit), then Atlantic — completely bypassing Hormuz. We've had zero shipment cancellations to Cotonou, Abidjan, Lomé, or Tema in 2026.
USD (preferred), EUR, and INR. CFA franc payments are not directly accepted but your bank can convert via SWIFT before transfer.
Yes — organic IR 64 parboiled and organic basmati available with NPOP (India), USDA Organic, EU Organic, and JAS certifications. Lead time is 21 days vs 14 days for conventional. Premium of ~$70–120/MT applies.
Ready to Source from India?

Get your custom quote in 24 hours.

Whether you need 1 container or 10,000 MT — whether your destination is Cotonou, Abidjan, Lomé, Tema, or anywhere across West Africa — we'll get you a transparent, mill-direct quote within 24 hours.

Request Quote Now → Visit Contact Page
📧
Email
alstoeindiaexports@gmail.com
 💬
WhatsApp
+91 85100 02646
 🌐
Website
alstoeindiaexports.com
Operating Across West Africa
🇨🇮 Côte d'Ivoire 🇧🇯 Benin 🇹🇬 Togo 🇬🇭 Ghana 🇸🇳 Senegal 🇧🇫 Burkina Faso 🇲🇱 Mali 🇳🇪 Niger 🇬🇳 Guinea 🇱🇷 Liberia 🇸🇱 Sierra Leone
Alstoe India Exports New Delhi, India APEDA Registered FSSAI Licensed ISO 9001:2015 Certified