India's rice reserves overflow amid record crop forecast
India is about to break its own record with 149-151 million tons of rice in the 2025-26 season—making it the world's top rice producer, even ahead of China.
But all this extra grain is piling up fast. Storage facilities are already packed with almost 39 million tons, and another 23 million tons still need processing.
The big question: where will it all go?
Surplus rice to be sent for ethanol fuel
To avoid waste and free up space, the government might send about 2.4 million tons of surplus rice for ethanol fuel—a pretty unusual move for such a staple food.
Meanwhile, exports have helped push Asian rice prices down by nearly 40% since early 2024.
Over 140 million people missing out on food aid
India spends $23 billion a year to feed around 800 million people through its food program—but outdated population data means over 140 million folks are missing out.
With so much extra rice coming in, finding ways to get it to those who need it most (and not just let it spoil) is more important than ever.