India has lifted its ban on the export of broken rice, a move that could result in a decline in global rice prices. As the world's largest rice exporter, India is expected to ship over two million metric tonnes of broken rice to international markets. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) issued a notification on March 7, officially changing the export policy for broken rice from "Prohibited" to "Free" with immediate effect. This restriction had been in place since September 2022 due to concerns over lower rice production caused by El Ni�o-related weak monsoons. The easing of the ban comes after a bumper rice harvest in 2024, fueled by surplus rainfall, which alleviated production concerns. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry confirmed that India would now allow the full export of broken rice, lifting it from the restricted category. While the export ban had previously kept domestic rice prices low and led to higher stock levels, the impact of lifting the restriction is expected to be a reduction in international rice prices. Despite this, demand in global markets remains weak. According to an expert, �With stock levels abundant, prices in India will stay subdued.� This policy change is expected to benefit African nations by making rice more affordable. Additionally, broken rice is in high demand in China, where it is used for livestock feed. Ethanol industries are also expected to purchase broken rice for biofuel production.