USDA raises India’s 2025-26 rice output estimate to a record 151 million tonnes due to early monsoon, good soil moisture and a hike in minimum support price.

Sanjeeb Mukherjee New Delhi

India’s rice production in the coming 2025-26 crop marketing season is estimated to touch an all-time high of 151 million tonnes, said the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

This would be due to early monsoon onset, abundant precipitation in the soil and the government’s higher minimum support price (MSP) for farmers, it said in its latest assessment.

In its May assessment, the USDA had pegged 2025-26 rice output at 148 million tonnes (MT), making India the world’s largest producer, surpassing China, which produced 146 MT.

The June assessment shows that the crop size could be even higher in 2025-26.

Published Date: June 14, 2025