The Countries Dominating Rice Exports in 2026

Key Highlights:

Global rice trade was valued at approximately $39 billion in 2025
HSN Code for rice is 1006
India alone holds 40% of global rice trade, exporting to over 150 countries
When India restricted non-basmati white rice exports in July 2023, global prices hit a 15-year high within weeks
Pakistan's rice exports grew 45.7% in 2024
The premium rice segment - basmati, jasmine, and aromatic varieties is growing faster than commodity rice as buyer preferences shift

While rice feeds over 50% of the world today, global exports are controlled by a small group of countries. Globally, rice trade in 2025 was valued at approximately $39 billion, with just a few of the exporting countries making up close to 74% of the total. Since most countries depend heavily on these rice-exporting countries, disruption to any one of them can impact food supply chains and rice prices worldwide.

The trade markets are expected to remain sensitive throughout 2026 due to ongoing conflicts and shifting market situations. Not only this, but growing inflation corners, food security policy, and climate variability are all influencing trade flows as much as production itself. Export decisions now affect food affordability and supply for entire nations because rice imports are not optional purchases but an essential part of maintaining domestic food supply. Read on to understand which countries are driving rice exports and why it matters for anyone tracking food trade flows, supply chain dependencies, or commodity price risk.

Why Rice Trade Matter Globally?

Rice is one of the most politically sensitive food commodities. It’s a dietary staple for many communities, mostly from Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and the Middle East. Even small supply shortages can directly increase household food costs, as many families rely heavily on rice. Unlike luxury goods, the changes in rice trade affect household affordability instantly. When India restricted non-basmati white rice exports in July 2023, global rice prices surged to a 15-year high within weeks. The FAO flagged it as a food security concern. Countries that solely relied on India for rice imports particularly in Africa and Southeast Asia had to find alternate suppliers and paid higher prices to get them.

Import dependency for rice is wide and deep. Sub-Saharan Africa is the world’s largest rice-importing region. The Philippines is the world’s largest single rice importer. Countries across the Middle East - including Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq - import substantial volumes annually. None of these regions can quickly substitute imports with domestic production, which is what makes export concentration a genuine risk factor in global food systems.

Top Rice Exporting Countries in the World (May 2025-May 2026)

Top Rice Exporting Countries (HSN 1006)	Value in USD
India	$22,582,008,976.05
Pakistan	$9,679,423,134.52
Vietnam	$4,712,208,957.57
Thailand	$3,718,261,577.76
South Korea	$2,853,422,684.11
Cambodia	$836,846,941.76
United Arab Emirates	$795,903,797.83
Uruguay	$729,528,083.15
Tanzania	$603,367,356.42

India continues to be in the massive lead, essentially acting as the world’s rice basket. India dominates both premium basmati (long-grain aromatic rice sold at higher prices), and large-volume non-basmati rice exports. The country's share in world rice trade is around 40% and its export destinations number more than 150. The plus point for India is its scale, pricing difference, and an extensive agricultural sourcing system that supports sustained production. No other country offers both varieties at that volume, plus India also carries massive government buffer stocks. Rice stockpiles hit 50.5 million tonnes in mid-2024, nearly four times government’s annual procurement requirement which gives it supply security that most competitors lack.

Also Read: Top 10 Indian Rice Exporter - Feb 2025

Pakistan has strengthened its rice trade largely through basmati exports and competitively priced white rice shipments. Its long-grain variety, grown in Punjab province along the Indus river basin, commands premium prices in the Middle East and European diaspora markets. What Pakistan doesn't have is the non-basmati depth of India. It competes in a narrower, higher-value segment, which means it is more sensitive to quality issues, water availability, and competition from Indian basmati when Indian export policy is permissive.

Vietnam has become increasingly competitive in global rice trade, surpassing Thailand in some periods of 2025. Vietnam’s export strength isn’t built on a single variety, it ships fragrance rice, jasmine varieties, glutinous rice, and white rice across diverse markets. Its modernized port infrastructure and competitive freight costs to Asian buyers give it an efficiency advantage. Vietnam also actively fills market gaps created by India’s export restrictions - when Indian non-basmati supply was restricted in 2023, Vietnamese exporters moved into African and Asian buyer contracts relatively quickly.

Thailand remains the premium brand in global rice trade. Its Jasmine rice (Hom Mali) is arguably the most recognizable named rice variety in global retail markets - stocked in supermarkets from Paris to Los Angeles. Thailand doesn’t compete on price. It competes in aroma, grain quality, and brand positioning. Its export values are strong, but volume growth has been pressured by the fact that Thai rice is consistently among the most expensive in the world. That’s intentional - Thai producers and the government have invested in premium positioning rather than volume competition.

South Korea appearing fifth is worth noting. It’s not a traditional bulk rice exporter, it exports processed rice products, specialty grain varieties, and rice destined for Asian diaspora markets and specific retail channels. The value figure reflects some re-export activity and value-added product trade rather than pure bulk commodity shipment.

Cambodia which has been steadily growing its rice export base, primarily through fragrant varieties like Phka Malis, which have won international quality awards. It’s still a small player by volume, but its quality positioning is improving and regional buyers in China and Europe have taken notice.

The UAE’s presence on this list is less about domestic production and more about its role as a trade hub. Dubai is a re-export hub for many commodities. It re-exports rice imported from South Asia through its ports to regional markets. It's a transit and processing node rather than a producer, and its presence reflects the geography of rice redistribution in the Gulf region.

Uruguay is the outlier from Latin America - a mechanised, efficient rice producer growing long-grain varieties for markets in Brazil, Peru, and increasingly the Middle East. It doesn't compete in the premium aromatic segment, but its export consistency and food safety standards have earned it reliable buyer relationships.

Tanzania represents East Africa's growing role in intra-regional rice trade, supplying neighbouring landlocked markets and absorbing demand that would otherwise be met by Asian imports.

Why Does India Continue Dominating Rice Exports?

India's position at the top of rice exports isn't shifting anytime soon. With around 130 million tons of paddy produced annually and well-developed export infrastructure, the gap is too wide for competitors to close quickly. The freight advantage adds to it. Shipping Indian rice to East Africa, the Middle East, or South Asia is shorter and cheaper than equivalent shipments from Thailand or Vietnam. That geographic edge shows up in price competitiveness, especially in the cost-sensitive non-basmati commodity segment.

Not just that, India's Food Corporation of India maintains buffer stocks that allow the government to release or restrict exports based on domestic price conditions. That's the tension India consistently manages. Non-basmati rice is a daily staple for hundreds of millions of households, so when domestic prices rise, export curbs follow. When stocks build up, duties come off. The cycle has become predictable enough that global rice traders now monitor Indian domestic price data and DGFT notifications as forward indicators of global supply conditions.

Premium Rice vs Commodity Rice Markets

The global rice trade runs on two distinct tracks. Commodity rice - bulk non-basmati and parboiled is driven by volume and price, with India, Vietnam, and Pakistan dominating through government procurement deals and thin margins. Premium rice operates on different logic entirely. Basmati from India and Pakistan, Thai Jasmine, and Cambodia's Phka Malis command significantly higher prices on the back of aroma, origin certification, and consistent quality. These varieties move through diaspora retail, specialty grocery, and upmarket food channels in Europe and North America. The premium segment is growing faster. As incomes rise in import-dependent regions, buyers upgrade and exporters that invested early in branding and quality certification are capturing that value.

Wrapping Up

India appears well positioned for rice exports throughout 2026 and in coming years. It holds both scale and variety. But emerging challenges also matter. Climate impacts, export policy shifts, freight costs, and global competition could shake the landscape. Pakistan may gain more as basmati demand rises globally. Vietnam and Thailand face similar pressures as they’ll need to adapt to changing buyer standards and climate variability. Smaller exporters like Tanzania and Uruguay may see opportunity in regional trade agreements. But they’ll need infrastructure and quality consistency to scale.

A small group of exporters command the global rice market, their size and market power are key indicators of global food security. Changes in climate, trade policies, logistics and traceability may be as important as production for rice exports. Definitely more than an agricultural commodity, rice trade has become a key part of global economic and food security strategy. Rice trade moves fast, policy changes overnight, prices follow within days. If you're sourcing rice or tracking supply shifts across markets, EX-IM by The Dollar Business gives you shipment-level trade data across origins, buyers, and price points. Book a demo to see how it works!