About 400,000 metric tons of Indian basmati rice are stuck at ports and in transit due to the Iran war. Exports have dried up due to increased freight rates since the U.S. and Israel's attack on Iran. India is the world's largest exporter of aromatic, premium rice, with buyers in the Middle East accounting for over half of its shipments. Exporters have already moved stocks to ports but cannot ship to the Middle Eastern due to rising container freight costs. The All India Rice Exporter's Association (AIREA) has approached India's trade ministry for assistance. If conditions persist, some exporters may invoke force majeure.