Rice is one of the important commodities in the world, being the staple food for majority of the world's population. It is the second most widely grown crop in the world, after Maize. China is the largest producer of rice in the world, followed by India.

From an Indian point of view, rice can be broadly classified as basmati or non-basmati rice. Basmati rice is rice, which is characterised by a long sized grain and a strong aroma. Non-basmati rice usually has a shorter grain size and lacks a strong aroma. There are numerous sub-species within each type of rice.

Currently export of non-basmati rice is banned from India, but the export of basmati rice is permitted.