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Global rice import market overview 2026: What the data shows
- The United States leads the top rice importing countries by import value at US$2.82 billion across the January to June 2026 period, ahead of the Philippines at US$1.19 billion under HS 1006.
- Milled rice (HS 100630), the basmati and non-basmati segment, dominates the global import mix at US$4.34 billion, far ahead of paddy and broken grades.
- African markets, including Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya, Angola, and Ethiopia all rank among the top ten, confirming that import demand is broadening beyond the traditional Asian buyers.
- In the first half of 2026, the Philippines imported a record 2.75 million tonnes of rice, up 20.1% year on year.
Which are the top rice importing countries in 2026?
Based on TradeInt's global rice import data for January to June 2026, the biggest rice importers by value are the United States at US$2.82 billion, the Philippines at US$1.19 billion, and Iran at US$652.04 million. The top rice importers also include Vietnam, Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya, Bangladesh, Mexico, Angola, and Ethiopia.
Top 5 rice importing countries in 2026:
- United States - US$2.82 billion: the largest importer by value, led by Daesang America Inc.
- Philippines - US$1.19 billion: the largest importer by volume, led by Renzy International Marketing Inc.
- Iran - US$652.04 million: a major basmati buyer, led by Green Nature of the Homeland.
- Vietnam - US$649.33 million: a processing hub importing paddy for re-export.
- Côte d'Ivoire - US$357.22 million: a leading West African import market.
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🇮🇳 Trade Data Analysis on India Rice Export Destinations
Saudi Arabia is the top buyer at US$125.83 million in Q1 2026, and milled basmati and non-basmati grades, making up 94.22% of the export basket.
Read more: India exports rice to which countries? Top partners & buyers
Preview: Historical rice import and export trade records
What is the most imported type of rice?
The leading rice types are milled rice (HS 100630) at US$4.34 billion, the overall rice category (HS 100600) at US$1.45 billion, and rice in the husk (HS 100610) at US$1.18 billion. Then, broken rice and husked brown rice completed the top 5 list.
Top rice types imported in 2026:
- Milled rice (HS 100630) - US$4.34 billion: semi-milled or wholly milled rice, the basmati and non-basmati staple segment.
- Rice, overall category (HS 100600) - US$1.45 billion: the aggregate line covering paddy, husked, milled, or broken grains.
- Rice in the husk (HS 100610) - US$1.18 billion: paddy or rough rice for milling.
- Broken rice (HS 100640) - US$370.36 million: broken grains for food processing, brewing, or animal feed.
- Husked brown rice (HS 100620) - US$152.16 million: brown rice with the husk removed but bran layer intact.
Milled rice dominates trade because it is the ready-to-cook staple that most import markets consume directly. In 2026, that preference kept milled grades as the highest-value line by a wide margin across the leading rice importing countries.
On the other hand, paddy and broken grades serve niche buyers. Because processing hubs such as Vietnam import husk rice to mill locally, while brewers and feed makers buy broken rice, these lower-priced lines follow separate demand cycles from milled staple rice.
Key points about rice import types in 2026:
- Milled rice carries the trade: Import demand concentrates in ready-to-cook milled grades that dominate retail and government procurement across Asia and Africa.
- Basmati flows are shifting: For 2026/27, India's basmati export flows to Gulf buyers weakened and were partly redirected to Europe and Asia, on Commodity Board analysis, reshaping premium-grade trade.
- Africa lifts broken-rice demand: For 2026/27, deliveries to sub-Saharan Africa were projected to reach 23.1 million tonnes, up 5%, on FranceAgriMer figures, supporting lower-cost grades.
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🇦🇪 List of Verified UAE Rice Buyers
TradeInt listed verified rice buyers in the UAE among the 500+ global company profiles, where India leads at US$215.17 million in 2025 and milled rice makes up 96.18% of imports across a market that is more than 90% import-dependent.
Read more: Rice Buyers in UAE 2025: Top Importers and Rice Types Imported
Who are the top global rice buyers in 2026?
Similarly, the list of verified rice buyers on TradeInt shows that the leading identified rice buyers include Daesang America Inc, Ste de Distribution de Toute M, and the Directorate of Food, alongside a top-ranked buyer available on the platform.
Top global rice buyers in 2026:
- Daesang America Inc: a US subsidiary of Daesang Group importing processed foods, rice products, and ingredients.
- Ste de Distribution de Toute M: a West African food distribution enterprise importing staple grains and general merchandise.
- Directorate of Food: a government agency handling state food procurement, grain storage, and public distribution.
- Renzy International Marketing Inc: a global food merchant importing and distributing agricultural products and staple grains.
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🌾 Trade Data Analysis of Top Rice Exporting Countries
TradeInt offers a list of leading rice exporters in FY24/25, with India first at US$14.17 billion, ahead of Vietnam at US$5.64 billion and Pakistan at US$3.96 billion, showing Asia's grip on global rice supply.
Read more: Top Rice Exporting Countries: Top 5 with Highest Value
Who are the top rice suppliers in 2026?
From global rice import records on TradeInt for the January to June 2026 period, the leading identified suppliers include Daesang Corporation, Choeut Heam Import Export Co Ltd, and Eng Cheng Import Export Co Ltd, alongside a top-ranked supplier available on the platform.
These names span South Korean food producers and Cambodian rice exporters serving global processing and retail markets.
Top global rice suppliers in 2026:
- Daesang Corporation: a South Korean food and biotechnology group processing and exporting rice products.
- Choeut Heam Import Export Co Ltd: a Cambodian exporter specialising in premium fragrant rice.
- Eng Cheng Import Export Co Ltd: a Cambodian agribusiness exporting high-grade milled rice.
How much is the global rice import value in 2025-2026?
From global rice import records on TradeInt, total import value reached US$7.74 billion in H1 2026, down 30.71% from US$11.18 billion in the same period of 2025. Q1 2026 recovered 5.78% quarter-on-quarter before Q2 2026 slipped 22.25%, pulling the first half well below the 2025 pace.
Lower average prices drove most of the decline rather than softer demand. Vietnam's average export price fell more than 11% to around US$460 per tonne in H1 2026, which reduced dollar value even as physical shipments climbed toward a record.
The value decline came against a record-breaking backdrop for physical trade. For the 2026/27 season, global rice trade was forecast to reach a record 63.1 million tonnes, the third straight year of strong growth in world rice trade, based on USDA data reported by Bao Nghe An.
Yet, softer prices explain the gap between rising volume and falling value.
In the first half of 2026, Vietnam's average export price fell more than 11% to around US$460 per tonne, which pulled down the dollar value of trade even as tonnage climbed.
Because global rice production for 2026/27 was projected to fall to 537.8 million tonnes as India recorded its first decline in a decade, tighter output kept import demand firm across Asia and Africa.
Highlights of the global rice import market in 2026:
- Trade volume set records even as value eased: For 2026/27, world rice trade was forecast at a record 63.1 million tonnes, up 1.8 million tonnes, on USDA figures, showing firm physical demand.
- African demand kept expanding: For 2026/27, sub-Saharan Africa shipments were projected at 23.1 million tonnes, up 5%, on FranceAgriMer data, broadening the import base.
- Production tightened at the top: For 2026/27, India, the world's largest producer, was expected to record its first output decline in ten years after below-average rainfall, based on USDA estimates.
Conclusion
Among the top rice importing countries in 2026, the United States leads by value at US$2.82 billion, ahead of the Philippines at US$1.19 billion and Iran at US$652.04 million, with milled rice the dominant grade at US$4.34 billion. Meanwhile, physical trade is heading for a record 63.1 million tonnes globally even as dollar values eased on lower prices - a sign that rice demand remains firm across Asia and Africa.
To explore rice import data by buyer, origin, and HS code, contact TradeInt.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the biggest importer of rice?
The Philippines is the world's largest rice importer by volume, buying a record 2.75 million tonnes in the first half of 2026, up 20.1% year on year, and forecast to import around 5.7 million tonnes for the full year.
Does the Philippines import rice from Vietnam?
Yes. The Philippines sources most of its imported rice from Vietnam, making the Vietnam-Philippines corridor the most important lane in the Southeast Asian rice trade.
Who is the biggest exporter of rice in the world?
India is the world's largest rice exporter, leading global trade by a wide margin, with Vietnam and Pakistan the next largest suppliers. For 2026/27, global rice trade was forecast to reach a record 63.1 million tonnes, even as India was expected to record its first production decline in a decade after below-average rainfall.
