"I don't think Pakistan will be in a position to ship ricein the same flow after the event," said managing director of Shivnathrai Harnarayan Prem Garg, a leading New Delhi-based rice exporter.

"We expect that Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will look at India to meet their requirement as India is the next best destination in terms of proximity for these countries," he added.

"Sri Lanka and Bangladesh and Indonesia have been relying on Pakistani rice because of low prices," Garg said. "But now these countries don't have an option."

Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif was ousted in a lightning military coup on Tuesday.

Traders in Karachi said that a 30,000 tonne order from Sri Lanka had lifted domestic prices of IRRI-6 rice in Pakistan. The minimum export price quoted on Tuesday was up at $185 per tonne (FOB) for 25 per cent broken Pakistani IRRI-6 rice variety from $180 per tonne last week.

Global prices seen up

Indian rice exporters said that the coup could lead a rise in international rice prices. "The situation now is very fluid in Pakistan," said managing director of Jamnadas Madhavji International Ltd Mulraj Tanna, a leading Bombay-based rice exporter.

"If the situation does not return to normal in a week's time, certainly their rice exports will be affected, in which case India would be able to sell some consignments," he added.

Indian traders said Pakistan non-Basmati rice was currently traded at about $10 per tonne cheaper than Indian rice.

They said Indian five per cent broken non-Basmati rice was quoted at $265 per tonne, 10 per cent at $255 per tonne, 15 per cent at $242 per tonne and 25 per cent broken at $235 per tonne.

Some Indian exporters said Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh were expected to keenly watch the situation for at least one week before changing their mind.

"If they see that the contracts signed would be difficult for Pakistan to ship, it is sure these countries will cancel their contracts with Pakistan," said an Indian exporter who asked not to be identified.

Indian basmati exports have an edge

President of the All India Rice Exporters Association Gurnam Arora told Reuters that aromatic Basmati rice exports from India would stand to gain more than non-Basmati rice exports, if the situation deteriorated in Pakistan.

"If the situation persists, we could be the only supplier of Basmati rice to the Middle East, Europe and the United States," Arora said.

Indian Basmati rice is currently quoted at about $700 to $1,000 per tonne. Although Indian Basmati rice exports are currently traded at about $100 per tonne more than Pakistani Basmati, Indian exporters say their quality is superior to that of Pakistan.