Origin and Genealogy: One Variety, Two Countries
IR64 and IRRI-6 trace to the same breeding institution: the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Los Banos, Philippines. IRRI began the IR series in the early 1960s to lift Asian rice yields after the famines of the late Green Revolution era. IRRI-6 entered commercial cultivation in Pakistan's Sindh province in the 1970s. IR64 entered commercial cultivation in India in 1985.
The two varieties are siblings in the IR breeding pedigree. They share the same long-grain morphology, the same milling behavior, and the same end-market profile. India scaled IR64 in Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. Pakistan scaled IRRI-6 in Sindh. The choice of cultivar followed each country's regional agronomy, not any meaningful difference in commercial spec.
Grain Comparison Side by Side
| Attribute | IR64 (India) | IRRI-6 (Pakistan) |
|---|---|---|
| Grain length, raw | 6.0 mm | 6.0 mm |
| Grain length, cooked | 14 mm minimum | 14 mm minimum |
| Elongation ratio | 2.3x minimum | 2.3x minimum |
| Moisture, max | 13.5% | 13.5% |
| Chalky kernels, max | 5% | 5% |
| Aroma | Mild, non-aromatic | Mild, non-aromatic |
| HS code, milled | 1006.30 | 1006.30 |
| HS code, 100% broken | 1006.40 | 1006.40 |
| Growing region | Punjab, AP, Tamil Nadu, Telangana | Sindh (Badin, Thatta, Sujawal) |
| Harvest window | Oct-Dec (Kharif) | Oct-Nov (Kharif) |
Broken Grade Structure
Both varieties ship in the same five broken grades: 5%, 10%, 15%, 25%, and 100% broken. Pakistani IRRI-6 also offers a 25% Fan Cleaned variant at $10/MT below the Sortex equivalent. Buyers comparing Indian IR64 broken grades will find the same 5/10/15/25/100% structure on IRRI-6 from Pakistan.
- IRRI-6 5% broken: premium retail grade, $360-$380/MT FOB Karachi
- IRRI-6 25% broken: commodity staple, $335-$355/MT
- 100% broken rice: West African staple food, $315-$335/MT
- IRRI-6 parboiled: $360-$380/MT, dominant across West African retail
- IRRI-6 brown rice: EU mill demand, $350-$370/MT
For full grade-by-grade explanation including Sortex versus Fan Cleaned, see rice broken grades explained.
Indian vs Pakistani Export Volumes
India is the world's largest rice exporter. Pakistan is the fourth largest. Both ship significant volumes of IR-series long-grain rice. Below are recent annual export figures for non-basmati rice.
| Country | Non-basmati Exports (recent annual) | Headline Variety |
|---|---|---|
| India | ~17-21 million MT | IR64 plus other non-basmati |
| Pakistan | ~3-4 million MT | IRRI-6 |
Source: Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) for Pakistan figures. Indian volumes vary year to year based on policy and crop conditions.
Indian volumes fluctuate sharply with central government export policy. The 2022 broken rice export ban and the 2023 white rice export restrictions cut Indian non-basmati shipments by half. During those policy windows, Pakistani IRRI-6 picked up redirected demand from Africa and CIS, with FOB Karachi volumes rising 25-40% year over year.
Regulatory and Duty Differences by Destination
Destination markets often treat IR64 and IRRI-6 identically at the tariff schedule. Both fall under HS 1006.30 (milled) and HS 1006.40 (100% broken). Differences arise from non-tariff measures: bilateral protocols, port-specific certification, and pesticide MRL panels.
EU: Identical tariff (EUR 175/MT for milled, EUR 65/MT for husked or broken). Brown rice tariff differential (HS 1006.20 at EUR 65/MT) is the same import-arbitrage opportunity for both Indian and Pakistani brown rice. See IRRI-6 brown rice EU tariff guide.
China: GACC registration is country-specific. Pakistani mills hold registrations under the Pakistan-China bilateral protocol; Indian mills hold separate registrations. Chinese importers source from both Pakistani IRRI-6 and Indian IR64. See China GACC registration.
West Africa: Mauritania, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Senegal, Guinea, Ghana, and Ivory Coast largely treat IR64 and IRRI-6 as interchangeable at the destination port. Importers ask for "long grain non-basmati 100% broken" or "parboiled 5%" without specifying origin in many tenders.
When to Buy IR64 vs When to Buy IRRI-6
Three decision drivers shape the origin choice.
Indian export policy. When India bans or restricts non-basmati rice exports (as in 2022 and 2023), buyers must source from Pakistan, Vietnam, or Thailand. Pakistani IRRI-6 is the closest spec match for IR64 buyers redirected by Indian policy.
Freight cost from origin. Indian east-coast ports (Kakinada, Visakhapatnam) and Pakistani Karachi each have advantages by destination. Karachi is closer to East Africa, the Gulf, and CIS. Indian east-coast ports are closer to Southeast Asia. West Africa freight is broadly similar from both origins.
Buyer relationships and certifications. A buyer with a multi-year SGS or Bureau Veritas relationship in Karachi may prefer to keep flow on the Pakistan lane. Conversely, a buyer with established China GACC import clearance through Indian channels may prefer IR64. The Mauritania 100% broken channel is largely indifferent to origin since destination certification is minimal.
Current FOB Price Comparison
Pakistani IRRI-6 FOB Karachi (live, updated every six hours from the price sheet):
| Grade | FOB Karachi $/MT |
|---|---|
| 5% broken white | $360-$380 |
| 10% broken white | $356-$376 |
| 15% broken white | $352-$372 |
| 25% broken white | $335-$355 |
| 25% Fan Cleaned | $325-$345 |
| 100% broken white | $315-$335 |
| Parboiled 5% | $360-$380 |
| Parboiled 100% broken | $325-$345 |
| Brown rice 5% | $350-$370 |
Indian IR64 prices vary by export policy, paddy crop conditions, and freight from east-coast ports. Buyers should obtain quotes from licensed Indian exporters directly for any IR64 reference price; we do not publish editorialized IR64 numbers here. The current IRRI-6 FOB Karachi price sheet updates every six hours from the live milling rate at our partner mills.
How to Source IRRI-6 If Your Spec Calls for IR64
Five-step substitution checklist for buyers redirecting an IR64 RFQ to Pakistan.
- Confirm the spec match. IRRI-6 6.0mm grain, 14mm cooked, 2.3x elongation, 13.5% max moisture, 5% max chalk: identical to IR64 commercial spec. No re-engineering needed.
- Match the broken percentage. If IR64 RFQ specified 5%, source IRRI-6 5% broken. If 25%, source IRRI-6 25%. If 100%, source 100% broken IRRI-6.
- Confirm the destination certification. KEBS PVOC for Kenya, GACC for China, GSA for Ghana. Both Indian and Pakistani lanes have their own certification process; do not assume Indian-side certifications transfer.
- Place the RFQ with Pakistani mills. Quote should arrive within 24 business hours specifying broken percentage, packing, FOB Karachi, and lead time.
- Adjust freight forecast. Karachi freight to your destination differs from Indian east-coast port freight. Re-quote CFR or CIF with the Pakistan-origin leg.
Substitution in Practice
Hundreds of buyers worldwide have substituted Pakistani IRRI-6 for Indian IR64 during periods of Indian export disruption. Mauritania importers redirect 100% broken volumes; Chinese importers redirect 5% and 25% white; Senegalese and Mauritanian importers ask for the same staple grain spec from Karachi as they previously sourced from Kakinada. The grain on the plate is the same.
Cross-Reference Reading
For broader Pakistan rice variety context including IRRI-6's place in Pakistan's full export portfolio, see the Pakistan Rice Export Portal IRRI-6 page. For grade structure overview spanning all Pakistan rice exports, see the Pakistan rice grades explained reference.
Get an IRRI-6 Quote
If your spec calls for IR64, send the same spec to our quote desk. Live FOB Karachi pricing covers all five broken grades plus parboiled and brown. Submit your RFQ with destination port and quantity to receive a Pakistan-origin quotation within 24 business hours.