The World Rice Map: Where It Is Grown, Traded And Needed Most

Did you know?

India and China together produce about 55% of the world’s rice. Their places in the export market are very different. India supplies roughly two-fifths of global rice exports, while China consumes almost its entire harvest at home.

Rice is grown in more than 100 countries, yet most of the world’s crop comes from a small part of Asia. Trade is even more concentrated. A few exporters supply the rice that crosses borders, while buyers across Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Europe rely on those shipments to cover gaps at home.

The result is a world rice map with three distinct groups: countries that grow large amounts of rice, countries that have enough surplus to export, and countries that must buy abroad. Some appear in more than one group. China produces more rice than almost any other country and still imports millions of tonnes. Vietnam is a leading exporter and also imports rice from neighboring Cambodia for processing and domestic use.

These overlaps explain why production figures alone reveal only part of the story.

India And China Grow More Than Half Of The World’s Rice

USDA forecasts global milled-rice production at about 537 million tonnes in the 2026/27 marketing year. India is expected to produce 150 million tonnes and China 147 million tonnes. Together, they account for just over 55% of world output.

Bangladesh follows with 37.4 million tonnes. Indonesia is forecast to produce 33.6 million tonnes, Vietnam 26.1 million and Thailand 20.3 million tonnes. All six of the largest producers are in Asia. The figures are drawn from the latest USDA Grain: World Markets and Trade report. Further production comparisons can be found through Tradologie, the Agriculture Institute and FAO-compiled production data published by Grokipedia.

The concentration in Asia reflects climate as well as demand. Rice grows well in warm conditions with dependable water, particularly across monsoon regions and irrigated river plains. The Indo-Gangetic plain, the Mekong Delta and Thailand’s Chao Phraya basin support large harvests. Centuries of farming knowledge, irrigation systems and local diets have kept production centred in the same region.

The USDA tables also show how closely production and consumption sit together. China is forecast to produce 147 million tonnes and consume 147.3 million. Bangladesh is expected to grow 37.4 million tonnes while consuming 39 million. Indonesia’s projected crop of 33.6 million tonnes falls short of its estimated consumption of 35 million.

Large harvests do not automatically create large surpluses.

Domestic Demand Decides How Much Rice Reaches the Export Market

China shows why production rankings cannot be used as export rankings. Its expected 147-million-tonne harvest is almost entirely absorbed at home. USDA forecasts Chinese exports of 2.2 million tonnes in 2027 and imports of 4 million tonnes.

Different regions can face different conditions during the same season. One province may have excess rice while another needs additional supply. Imported broken rice may be competitively priced for animal feed or food processing even when the country has a large domestic crop. Quality and variety matter too. A country may export one type of rice while importing another.

Bangladesh has an even tighter balance. Its projected consumption exceeds production by about 1.6 million tonnes in 2026/27. USDA expects the country to import around 1.7 million tonnes. Its crop is among the world’s largest, yet the demands of a dense population leave little available for regular exports.

Indonesia follows a similar pattern. Domestic production supplies most of its needs, but changes in rainfall, planting schedules or stocks can quickly alter its import requirements. Import and consumption comparisons published by Tendata also show why some of the largest rice producers continue to buy foreign supplies.

India has a much larger gap between production and domestic use. USDA forecasts production of 150 million tonnes and consumption of 128 million tonnes in 2026/27. Strong stocks add another layer of protection. That gives India room to serve its domestic market while shipping large quantities overseas.

Thailand and Vietnam also produce well above their own consumption. Thailand is forecast to grow 20.3 million tonnes and consume 12.8 million. Vietnam is expected to produce 26.1 million and consume 22.2 million. Their established milling industries, ports and trading relationships help turn these surpluses into regular exports.

India Supplies About 40% of the Rice Traded Worldwide

India leads the export map by a wide margin. USDA forecasts Indian rice exports at 25 million tonnes in 2027. Vietnam follows at 8.1 million tonnes, with Thailand at 7.5 million, Pakistan at 5 million and Cambodia at 3.8 million tonnes.

World exports are forecast at 62.9 million tonnes. India’s expected share is therefore close to 40%. The country is projected to ship more rice than Vietnam, Thailand and Pakistan combined.

The size of India’s position is also evident in historical export comparisons published by the USDA Economic Research Service. Country-level shipment records are available through the World Bank WITS and UN Comtrade database. Recent exporter comparisons have also been compiled by TradeInt.

Pakistan is also a major basmati supplier, while Thailand and Vietnam are strong in white, fragrant and other Asian rice markets. The United States exports smaller quantities but remains an important supplier to destinations in the Americas and parts of the Middle East.

These countries do not produce interchangeable grain. Rice varies by length, aroma, texture, percentage of broken kernels and milling method. A buyer of premium basmati cannot always replace a delayed Indian shipment with ordinary white rice from another origin. The overall export total may appear comfortable while one segment of the market is tight.

The Philippines has the World’s Largest Import Requirement

USDA forecasts the Philippines will import 5.6 million tonnes of rice in 2027, the largest volume of any country. Domestic production is projected at 12.4 million tonnes, compared with consumption of 17.9 million.

The gap has several causes. The country has limited farmland relative to the size of its population. Typhoons can damage crops and farm infrastructure, while El Niño can reduce water available for irrigation. Urban growth also places pressure on agricultural land. Local farms still provide most of the rice eaten in the Philippines, but imports cover the part they cannot supply consistently.

Vietnam is the Philippines’ main foreign supplier. A USDA Foreign Agricultural Service report found that Vietnam provided 81% of Philippine rice imports in the 2024/25 marketing year, followed by Thailand with 9% and Pakistan with 5%. This concentration makes Vietnamese prices and harvest conditions especially important to Philippine buyers.

China is forecast to be the second-largest importer in 2027 at 4 million tonnes. Vietnam follows at 3.8 million tonnes. Vietnam’s place on both sides of the trade map may seem surprising, but much of its imported rice arrives as paddy from Cambodia. It can then be milled, consumed locally or moved through established processing and trading channels.

Nigeria is expected to import 2.9 million tonnes, while the European Union is forecast at 2.35 million. Iraq follows at 2 million tonnes.

West Africa Relies Heavily on Rice Arriving by Sea

Rice consumption has grown rapidly across West Africa, especially in towns and cities where it is convenient to store, trade and prepare. Production has increased in several countries, but it has not kept pace with demand.

USDA forecasts Côte d’Ivoire to import 1.7 million tonnes in 2027 and Senegal 1.4 million. Guinea is expected to buy 1.15 million tonnes, while Ghana’s imports are forecast at 900,000 tonnes. Nigeria produces more rice than any other African country in the USDA table, yet its large population is expected to consume 8.8 million tonnes against production of about 5.7 million.

The region’s production limits differ from country to country. Farmers may face unreliable rainfall, limited irrigation, high input costs and losses during storage or transport. Imported rice can also arrive at ports at prices that are difficult for small local producers to match.

Import rankings published by World’s Top Exports show the continued presence of Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Benin and other West African buyers in the international market.

This makes West Africa highly exposed to decisions made in Asian exporting countries. When India restricted non-basmati white-rice exports in July 2023, African buyers had to compete for supplies from Thailand, Vietnam, Pakistan and other origins. The FAO All Rice Price Index rose 9.8% in August 2023 and reached a 15-year nominal high. FAO linked the jump to trade disruption after the Indian ban and uncertainty about how long it would last.

The episode showed how quickly an export decision in New Delhi could reach wholesalers and households thousands of kilometres away.

Climate and Consumer Preferences Shape Other Import Markets

Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates buy large quantities of rice because water scarcity and arid conditions limit local production. Rice farming generally requires dependable water, making large domestic crops difficult in much of the Middle East.

The region is also an important market for aromatic rice. Saudi Arabia is forecast to import 1.8 million tonnes in 2027, Iraq 2 million and the United Arab Emirates 1 million. India and Pakistan are major suppliers, particularly for basmati.

European imports have a different mix of causes. Rice is grown in parts of Italy, Spain, Greece, Portugal and France, but regional output is far below total demand. European buyers also import varieties that are not produced locally in sufficient quantities, including basmati from India and Pakistan and jasmine rice from Southeast Asia.

An import figure can therefore represent a physical production shortfall, demand for a particular variety or both.

Only a Small Share of the World’s Rice Crosses a Border

The world is forecast to produce about 537 million tonnes of milled rice in 2026/27, while exports in 2027 are expected to reach about 62.9 million tonnes. That means roughly 12% of production enters international trade. FAO’s latest outlook places international rice trade in 2026 at 59.8 million tonnes, following the record reached in 2025.

Most rice is eaten in or near the country where it was grown. The internationally available share is supplied mainly by India and a short list of Asian exporters. This gives policy changes, shipping delays and poor harvests in those countries an influence that reaches far beyond their share of world production.

The same concentration appears among buyers. The Philippines depends heavily on Vietnam. Many West African markets depend on shipments from India and Southeast Asia. Middle Eastern buyers rely on India and Pakistan for much of their basmati supply.

Global stocks can remain comfortable while importers still face higher prices. Rice stored inside a producing country does not help an overseas buyer if export rules prevent it from leaving, the available variety is unsuitable or freight becomes too expensive.

The Countries Carrying the Greatest Trade Risk

The rice map changes slowly because its main forces are difficult to alter. River systems, rainfall, irrigation networks, farmland and eating habits develop over decades. Ports, mills and trading relationships take years to build.

India’s large surplus gives it unmatched influence over global exports. China, Bangladesh and Indonesia remain focused on feeding their own populations. Vietnam and Thailand turn smaller harvests into major export businesses. The Philippines and many African and Middle Eastern countries rely on foreign supply for different reasons, ranging from limited farmland to water scarcity and fast-growing demand.

That structure explains why the same countries appear whenever rice prices move. A harvest problem in Vietnam can concern buyers in Manila. An Indian export restriction can send West African importers searching for alternatives. Higher freight or insurance costs can raise the delivered price even when global production is strong.

The countries facing the most risk are those that need imported rice every year and have few suitable suppliers. Their food supply depends on someone else’s harvest, government policy and ships arriving on time.