For UK importers · Sourced in India · Container loads
Indian basmati rice for UK mills, packers and importers
Brown (husked) basmati for UK mills, which enters at 0% duty from India under the UK-India trade agreement, plus milled basmati and South Indian rice for importers who price the duty in. You contract with Bridgewares Global Ltd, a UK company; our Chennai office manages mills, EIC inspection and export documents.
Products
Varieties we supply to the UK
1121 Basmati Rice
Extra-long grain, average length about 8.4 mm. Brown for UK mills, or milled as steam or sella.
Specification and packing →
1509 Basmati Rice
Extra-long grain basmati variety, supplied brown or milled.
Specification and packing →
1718 Basmati Rice
Extra-long grain basmati variety, supplied brown or milled.
Specification and packing →
Pusa Basmati Rice
Traditional Pusa basmati for buyers who specify the variety.
Specification and packing →
Sona Masoori Rice
Medium grain South Indian rice for UK wholesalers and packers.
Specification and packing →
Ponni Rice
South Indian rice from Tamil Nadu, for UK wholesalers and packers.
Specification and packing →Brown rice first, and why
The UK-India trade agreement came into force on 15 July 2026. It gives husked (brown) rice from India a 0% rate across the husked rice lines, but it did not cover milled rice. Milled basmati still pays £121 per tonne unless it comes in under the India-only quota with an import licence.
India already sends the UK more brown rice than milled rice: £112 million of husked rice against £67 million of milled rice in 2025, 56% of all UK husked rice imports by value. Indian husked rice imports rose by 49% in volume in January to July 2026 compared with the same months of 2025 (HMRC trade data). That is where we focus: brown basmati to a mill's specification, tested and inspected in India.
Milled basmati: what to price in
We also supply milled 1121, 1509 and 1718 basmati as steam or sella, and Sona Masoori and Ponni, for importers and wholesalers. For milled rice, include the £121 per tonne duty in your landed cost unless you hold a quota licence. We quote FOB India or CFR and CIF UK ports so you can compare like with like.
What to put in your specification
- Variety, and brown, raw milled, steam or sella
- Average grain length and broken grain limit
- Moisture, purity, damaged and discoloured grain limits
- Aflatoxin, ochratoxin A and pesticide residue testing, with the laboratory and method
- Crop year, bag size and labelling
- Destination port and Incoterm
See the full rice catalogue and the 1121 basmati specification.
At a glance
Duty, border controls and documents
| Brown (husked) basmati, 1006 20 | 0% for Indian origin under the UK-India trade agreement, with proof of origin. Without the preference, the UK Global Tariff is 0% on some husked basmati lines for the listed varieties and £25 per tonne on other husked long grain rice. |
|---|---|
| Milled basmati, 1006 30 | £121 per tonne. Milled rice was excluded from the trade agreement. An India-only 0% tariff quota (order number 054117) exists and needs a UK import licence. |
| GB border controls | Rice from India is on the GB high-risk food list for increased checks (aflatoxins, ochratoxin A and pesticide residues). The importer pre-notifies each consignment on IPAFFS; 5% of consignments are checked. No official certificate is required. |
| Indian export requirement | A certificate of inspection from the Export Inspection Council or Agency is required for rice exported to the UK. We arrange it before loading. |
| Documents we send | Commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin or origin statement, EIC certificate of inspection, phytosanitary certificate where required, and a certificate of analysis to your contract parameters. |
| Container load | One 20ft container, about 25 MT in 25 or 50 kg bags or jumbo bags; retail packs for private label by agreement. |
Checked against the UK Trade Tariff and SI 2025/1162 on 13 September 2026. Rates, quotas and controls change; this is guidance, not a tariff ruling.
Questions UK buyers ask
Is Indian basmati rice duty free in the UK after the trade agreement?
Only brown (husked) basmati. Husked rice of Indian origin has a 0% preference under the UK-India trade agreement, in force since 15 July 2026. Milled basmati was excluded and still pays £121 per tonne, unless it is imported under the India-only quota 054117 with a UK import licence.
Why do UK mills import brown basmati?
Because the duty gap is large. UK mills can import husked rice at 0% from India and mill it in the UK, while milled rice pays £121 per tonne. India supplied 56% of UK husked rice imports by value in 2025.
Are 1121, 1509 and 1718 treated as basmati by the UK tariff?
The UK tariff lists named basmati varieties, including Pusa basmati, for its basmati lines. Whether 1121, 1509 and 1718 fall within that description has not been confirmed by HMRC, so ask for an advance tariff ruling if the classification affects your price. For husked rice from India the preference is 0% either way.
What border checks apply to rice from India?
Rice from India is subject to increased checks as high-risk food not of animal origin: pre-notification on IPAFFS, entry through a border control post, and identity and physical checks on 5% of consignments. No official Indian certificate is needed for these checks.
Who do I contract with?
Bridgewares Global Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales (company number 17315431). Our Chennai office manages mills, testing, EIC inspection and export documents.
Sampling
Free samples before you commit
Ask for labelled samples of brown or milled basmati, sent with the matching specification, so your QC team can check grain length, broken grains, moisture and cooking before you commit to a container.
- Representative samples drawn to your requested grade
- Labelled and documented with the matching specification
- Arranged alongside your enquiry so the right desk follows up
Tell us what you import
Product, volume, destination port and specification. We reply within one business day.