Sona Masoori Rice in Bulk: Prices, Uses and What to Specify
Sona Masoori rice wholesale price by city in ₹/kg, who buys raw or steam, aged vs new crop, broken limits, and how Kolam and Ponni compare.
By PingB2B·Updated 6 October 2026
Short answer
Sona Masoori is a light, medium-slender rice milled mainly in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka. It sells raw or steam, new crop or aged. Hotels and messes buy aged steam for separate grains; households and packers buy raw. Price moves with city, crop age and broken percentage, so put all three on the order.
1. Wholesale price by city
Rupees per kg, excluding GST, loose or in 25 kg bags. Rates as of 4 September 2026.
| Market | Sona Masoori (₹/kg) | Kolam (₹/kg) | Ponni parboiled (₹/kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-India | ₹58 | – | ₹50 |
| Bangalore | ₹65 | ₹52 | ₹50 |
| Chennai | ₹55 | – | ₹52 |
| Delhi | ₹72 | – | – |
| Hyderabad | ₹55 | ₹50 | ₹50 |
| Jaipur | ₹68 | – | – |
| Kolkata | – | – | ₹46 |
| Pune | ₹62 | ₹58 | – |
| Surat | ₹55 | ₹55 | – |
2. Who buys it and what they order
| Buyer | What they order | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Hotels and restaurants | Steam, aged, under 5% broken | Cooks dry and separate, and holds in bulk |
| Messes, hostels and canteens | Steam or raw, new crop, 25 or 26 kg bags | Lower price for daily volume |
| Households and kirana stores | Raw, aged, 25 kg bags | Soft, white everyday rice in South India |
| Retail packers | Raw, aged, under 3% broken, 5 or 10 kg packs | An even, clean grain sells the brand |
| Exporters to the Gulf and USA | Raw, aged, sorted, under 5% broken | Steady diaspora demand for South Indian rice |
3. What to put on the order
Two quotes for Sona Masoori can describe different rice. These lines make them comparable.
| Parameter | What to write | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Form | Raw or steam | Steam breaks less and cooks firmer. Raw is whiter and softer. |
| Crop age | New crop, or aged with months stated | Aged rice cooks drier and costs more. New crop is cheaper and stickier. |
| Broken grains | Maximum %, for example 5% | The biggest price lever within the variety |
| Grain length | Average around 5.2 mm | Confirms it is Sona Masoori and not a shorter local rice |
| Moisture | Maximum 14% | Above this, rice can grow mould in storage |
| Packing | 25 or 26 kg bags for trade; 5 or 10 kg for retail | Fix bag size and printing before milling |
4. Sona Masoori, Kolam, HMT and Ponni
Buyers who search for one of these often accept another. They are different grains at different prices.
| Variety | Where it comes from | Grain | Who buys it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sona Masoori | Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka | Medium slender, light | South Indian households, hotels and messes |
| Kolam | Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh | Short, fine | Mumbai, Pune and Gujarat households and caterers |
| HMT | Vidarbha, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh | Short to medium, fine | Hyderabad and Vidarbha households and messes |
| Ponni | Tamil Nadu, Kaveri delta | Shorter and bolder | Tamil Nadu households, messes and hotels |
5. Where it is milled
| Region | What to know |
|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh and Telangana | The largest source. Miryalaguda and Nellore mill most export lots, loaded at Kakinada, Krishnapatnam or Chennai. |
| Karnataka | Raichur, Gangavathi and Sindhanur supply Bangalore, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Ask which state milled the lot. |
| BPT 5204 | The variety code of Samba Mahsuri. On a quote, BPT and Sona Masoori usually mean the same rice. |
6. Delivery
- Ask whether a domestic quote is ex-mill or delivered. Freight from Andhra or Karnataka to Pune or Mumbai is a real share of the cost.
- For export, one 20ft container carries 25 tonnes.
- Kakinada, Krishnapatnam and Chennai are closer to the mills than JNPT, so the inland leg costs less.
- Agree a sealed sample from the shipping lot before the order, and keep it until delivery is accepted.
Request quotes
Grade, quantity and delivery point.
Official checks and useful references
APEDA — Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority ↗
Registers Indian cereal exporters. Check an exporter's registration before a first shipment.
FSSAI — Food Safety and Standards Authority of India ↗
Licences Indian food businesses, including rice mills and packers.
Directorate of Marketing and Inspection (AGMARK) ↗
Publishes the AGMARK grade standards for rice used in quality specifications.
Related buyer guides
Frequently asked questions
Is BPT rice the same as Sona Masoori?
In the trade, usually yes. BPT 5204 is the variety code of Samba Mahsuri, and mills in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana sell it as BPT or Sona Masoori. Because the names are used loosely, put the variety, the state of milling and an average grain length on the order.
What is the difference between raw and steam Sona Masoori?
Steam Sona Masoori is lightly steamed in the paddy before milling. It breaks less, keeps its shape when cooked and is slightly off-white. Raw is milled straight from dried paddy, is whiter and cooks softer. Hotels and messes that cook in bulk often prefer steam; households often buy raw.
Should I buy new or aged Sona Masoori?
Aged rice, stored for several months after harvest, cooks drier and separates better, which is why hotels, caterers and messes ask for it. New crop is cheaper and cooks stickier. If you buy aged rice, put the number of months on the order, because old rice on its own is not a specification.
Why does Sona Masoori cost more in Delhi than in Hyderabad?
Mostly distance from the mills. Sona Masoori is milled in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka, so Hyderabad and Chennai buy close to source, while Delhi and Jaipur pay for the long truck journey north. Local demand moves each city too. The price table above shows the gap city by city.
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