<p data-path-to-node="2" id="p-rc_0bd3eb2ea665170f-132"><span data-path-to-node="2,0" class=""><b data-path-to-node="2,0" data-index-in-node="0">NEW DELHI / BANGKOK</b> — Escalating ocean freight tariffs, compounding war-risk insurance surcharges, and chronic maritime bottlenecks across vital trade corridors took center stage at the Bharat International Rice Conference (BIRC 2026), where leading grain exporters, chartering syndicates, and marine underwriters convened to address growing threats to global food security and commodity logistics</span><span data-path-to-node="2,1" class=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c2563806301="" class="ng-star-inserted"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2563806301="" class="superscript"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="2,2">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c117407407=""><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><p data-path-to-node="3" id="p-rc_0bd3eb2ea665170f-133"><span data-path-to-node="3,0">The high-level conclave brought together agricultural trade delegations from major Asian rice-exporting nations—principally India, Thailand, Pakistan, and Vietnam—alongside major institutional buyers and procurement directors from the Middle East, Africa, and Europe</span><span data-path-to-node="3,1" class=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c2563806301="" class="ng-star-inserted"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2563806301="" class="superscript"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="3,2">. Discussions centered on the severe operational strain placed on thin-margin agricultural trade by ongoing geopolitical disruptions in West Asian maritime passages, particularly the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Strait of Hormuz</span><span data-path-to-node="3,3" class=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c2563806301="" class="ng-star-inserted"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2563806301="" class="superscript"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="3,4">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c117407407=""><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><p data-path-to-node="4" id="p-rc_0bd3eb2ea665170f-134"><span data-path-to-node="4,0">Delegates emphasized that grain exporters have been disproportionately affected by the compounding logistics crisis</span><span data-path-to-node="4,1" class=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c2563806301="" class="ng-star-inserted"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2563806301="" class="superscript"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="4,2">. Because rice is a high-volume, low-margin staple commodity, unexpected logistics inflation quickly wipes out trading margins</span><span data-path-to-node="4,3" class=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c2563806301="" class="ng-star-inserted"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2563806301="" class="superscript"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="4,4">. With commercial container liners and breakbulk carriers maintaining elevated contingency surcharges, war-risk breach fees, and lengthy vessel detours around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope, the landed cost of Asian rice has surged significantly in import-dependent destinations across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Sub-Saharan Africa</span><span data-path-to-node="4,5" class=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c2563806301="" class="ng-star-inserted"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2563806301="" class="superscript"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="4,6">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c117407407=""><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><p data-path-to-node="5" id="p-rc_0bd3eb2ea665170f-135"><span data-path-to-node="5,0">Exporters highlighted severe working capital lock-ups and inventory spoilage risks</span><span data-path-to-node="5,1" class=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c2563806301="" class="ng-star-inserted"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2563806301="" class="superscript"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="5,2">. Prolonged vessel schedule delays, container equipment mismatches at western export gateways, and rolling delays in clearing cargo through congested transshipment nodes have stranded hundreds of thousands of tonnes of premium basmati and non-basmati rice at coastal container freight stations (CFSs) and port warehouses</span><span data-path-to-node="5,3" class=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c2563806301="" class="ng-star-inserted"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2563806301="" class="superscript"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="5,4">. Trade representatives warned that protracted storage in humid coastal climates increases the likelihood of moisture absorption, grain discolouration, and pest infestation, heightening the risk of destination rejections</span><span data-path-to-node="5,5" class=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c2563806301="" class="ng-star-inserted"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2563806301="" class="superscript"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="5,6">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c117407407=""><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><p data-path-to-node="6" id="p-rc_0bd3eb2ea665170f-136"><span data-path-to-node="6,0">Marine insurance emerged as a critical strategic priority throughout the conference plenaries</span><span data-path-to-node="6,1" class=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c2563806301="" class="ng-star-inserted"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2563806301="" class="superscript"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="6,2">. Underwriters from leading London-market syndicates and regional Protection and Indemnity (P&amp;I) clubs outlined the mounting difficulty of pricing coverage for voyages entering designated High-Risk Areas (HRAs)</span><span data-path-to-node="6,3" class=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c2563806301="" class="ng-star-inserted"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2563806301="" class="superscript"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="6,4">. With Additional War Risk Premiums (AWRP) fluctuating at elevated thresholds, exporters and buyers were urged to move away from legacy trade contracts</span><span data-path-to-node="6,5" class=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c2563806301="" class="ng-star-inserted"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2563806301="" class="superscript"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="6,6">. Insurance legal experts recommended structuring clear, modernized Cost, Insurance, and Freight (CIF) and Free on Board (FOB) terms that explicitly define liability for sudden war-risk spikes, electronic jamming, and prolonged voyage deviations</span><span data-path-to-node="6,7" class=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c2563806301="" class="ng-star-inserted"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2563806301="" class="superscript"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="6,8">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c117407407=""><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><p data-path-to-node="7" id="p-rc_0bd3eb2ea665170f-137"><span data-path-to-node="7,0">To preserve trade continuity and maintain price competitiveness, BIRC 2026 working groups ratified a series of operational recommendations</span><span data-path-to-node="7,1" class=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c2563806301="" class="ng-star-inserted"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2563806301="" class="superscript"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="7,2">:</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c117407407=""><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><ul data-path-to-node="8"><li><p data-path-to-node="8,0,0" id="p-rc_0bd3eb2ea665170f-138"><span data-path-to-node="8,0,0,0" class=""><b data-path-to-node="8,0,0,0" data-index-in-node="0">Multimodal Inland Redundancy:</b> Accelerating bonded rail-to-port connections and exploring cross-border landbridge routes to bypass congested coastal feeder corridors</span><span data-path-to-node="8,0,0,1" class=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c2563806301="" class="ng-star-inserted"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2563806301="" class="superscript"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="8,0,0,2">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c117407407=""><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="8,1,0" id="p-rc_0bd3eb2ea665170f-139"><span data-path-to-node="8,1,0,0" class=""><b data-path-to-node="8,1,0,0" data-index-in-node="0">IoT &amp; Telemetry Integration:</b> Mandating digital temperature and humidity sensors alongside dynamic electronic seals (e-seals) on containerized agro-consignments to document cargo condition in real time and expedite insurance claims in the event of transit stalls</span><span data-path-to-node="8,1,0,1" class=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c2563806301="" class="ng-star-inserted"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2563806301="" class="superscript"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="8,1,0,2">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c117407407=""><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="8,2,0" id="p-rc_0bd3eb2ea665170f-140"><span data-path-to-node="8,2,0,0" class=""><b data-path-to-node="8,2,0,0" data-index-in-node="0">Government-Backed Liquidity Buffers:</b> Urging sovereign commerce and export-import authorities to provide temporary freight subsidy mechanisms and extended export credit facilities to cushion agricultural MSMEs from maritime cash-flow shocks</span><span data-path-to-node="8,2,0,1" class=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c2563806301="" class="ng-star-inserted"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2563806301="" class="superscript"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="8,2,0,2">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c117407407=""><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p></li></ul><p data-path-to-node="9" id="p-rc_0bd3eb2ea665170f-141"><span data-path-to-node="9,0">Closing the summit, trade association leadership warned that without coordinated interventions between governments, shipping consortia, and marine insurers to stabilize agricultural freight corridors, the compounding cost of maritime transport will continue to jeopardize basic food supply lines and inflate food prices for millions of vulnerable consumers worldwide</span><span data-path-to-node="9,1" class=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c2563806301="" class="ng-star-inserted"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2563806301="" class="superscript"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="9,2">.</span></p>