International Markets

Canada
Canada shares the world’s longest international border with the United States and is a top market for U.S. rice. Canada does not produce any rice. It grows wild rice, which is not a true rice, but the seed of an aquatic grass. The majority of rice on store shelves that is consumed in Canada is grown in the U.S. Essentially, U.S.-grown rice is as local as it gets for Canadians.
Central America
China
“Have you eaten rice yet?” is a common Chinese expression used as a way to say hello. Per capita rice consumption in China is estimated at 221 pounds per year, nearly 10 times U.S. per capita consumption and one of the highest in the world. China is the largest importer of rice, bringing in over 5 million tons annually. The U.S. rice industry has been working for over a decade to gain access to the Chinese market and while progress has been made, we are not yet to the finish line.
Colombia
Rice is a staple in Colombia whose 50 million people have a high domestic consumption level of more than 1.6 million tons per year. Traditional dishes such as Bandeja Paisa (white rice, red beans, ground beef, plantain, sausage, fried pork skin, corn patty, avocado, and a fried egg) can be found on the table year-round.
Cuba
Cuba is a small Caribbean island 93 miles south of Key West, Florida with a population of over 11 million. Once the number one export market for U.S. rice, exports evaporated when the U.S. imposed an embargo against Cuba. Given their large consumption of rice at 190 lbs per capita annually, Cuba remains a large consumer of rice and will be a top market for U.S. rice once again.
Ghana
Haiti
Haiti is a beautiful mountainous country that makes up the Western third of the island once known as Hispaniola, sharing a border with the Dominican Republic. Haitians prefer to eat rice on a daily basis, consuming about 115 lbs annually per capita.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong produces no rice yet eats nearly 100 pounds per capita annually and thus is dependent upon imports. Hong Kong is a truly open market (like the U.S.!) with no quantitative or qualitative restrictions and no tariffs on imported rice.
Iraq
Japan
Japan is the United States’ second largest milled rice export market in terms of volume and first in terms of value. Many rice farmers in California grow varieties such as Koshihikari, Akitakomachi or sweet rice specifically for the Japanese market though the majority of imports are Calrose. Japan has recently subsidized super premium quality rice and rice for feed use for domestic Japanese farmers, resulting in an insufficient supply of reasonably priced rice favored by the foodservice industry. This provides a large opportunity for imported rice, such as U.S. rice.
Jordan
Jordan is the largest single Arab market for U.S. medium grain rice exports and continues to be a growth market. Jordan is one of the four driest countries in the world, making the country heavily reliant on food imports including rice. Rice is a staple and the average yearly consumption is estimated at 53 lbs. per capita, yet the country produces no rice. The most popular national dish, mansaff, uses U.S. medium grain rice.
Mexico
Mexico is the largest export market for U.S. rice and has been for years. In 1994 they entered into the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and the United States. Since then Mexico’s economy has grown exponentially. The country currently manages a $2.4 trillion economy, which is 11th largest in the world. Mexico’s population of nearly 125 million people is a critical component of U.S. trade.
Saudi Arabia
Rice is the main dish in Saudi Arabia and is usually served twice daily. Saudi Arabia is the Middle East’s second largest importer of long grain rice; they do not produce rice and thus depend entirely on imports. Rice is imported freely by private companies, with zero import duty and no import subsidies.
Singapore
South Korea
South Korea is a country of 51 million and is the second largest market for U.S. rice in Asia. Per capita consumption is estimated at 136 pounds per year but is declining. South Korea imported 152,000 MT of U.S. rice in 2017.
Taiwan
Taiwan has a population of 23.5 million and per capita rice consumption is estimated at 97.9 pounds per year. The U.S. is the largest rice supplier to Taiwan, accounting for about half of their imports. Taiwan has in recent years imported U.S. Calrose, Southern medium grain, long grain and glutinous rice from the U.S.
Turkey

Turkey grows rice; however, it is not enough to satisfy domestic demand which has been increasing over the past several years. Recently, there has been a good deal of uncertainty in the market due to the tense political and economic situation which has led to the rapid depreciation of the Turkish Lira against foreign currencies and an increase in interest rates.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom is the single largest market for U.S. rice sales in the European Union, mostly importing U.S. long grain rice, as well as some medium grain rice for sushi. In 2017, the UK imported 678,000 MT of rice, with India being the largest single supplier, mostly Basmati rice. The USA is the eighth largest exporter with a 4 percent market share.
West Bank

Recent News

Congressional Staff Panel seated on stage at AR annual meeting, Arkansas Rice banner in background — Members of the federal legislative panel share their insights on current situation on Capitol Hill

Feb 27, 2025

STUTTGART, AR – More than 160 rice growers and industry representatives gathered here earlier this week for a joint meeting of the Arkansas Rice Federation and Arkansas Rice Council.

After being welcomed by both Kelly Robbins, executive director of Arkansas Rice, and USA Rice President & CEO Peter Bachmann, the program started off with a regulatory overview panel that featured Harrison Pittman, director of the National Agricultural Law Center Director; Sarah Moran, USA Rice chief operating officer; and Dr. Hunter Biram, agriculture economist with the University of Arkansas. Tariffs were a hot topic, as well as the effects of the recently announced freeze of federal funding on producers, and current economic conditions and prices.

A federal legislative panel took the stage next to discuss issues of importance including the possibility of the passage of an updated Farm Bill this year, status of economic assistance and disaster payments, and concerns about labor and H2-A issues. USA Rice Vice President of Government Affairs Jamison Cruce joined Carley Esser McLean with the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee for Senator John Boozman, and legislative assistants Miles Bolin, with Congressman Bruce Westerman, and James Hodges, with Congressman Rick Crawford, to report on both the challenges and expectations for congressional activity in the coming year.

Next, Chris Colclasure, director of the Arkansas Department of Agriculture Natural Resources, provided an update on the State Water Plan currently in the second and last phase of the update process which includes organized focus-group meetings and data analysis. Amanda Mathis, a conservationist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), spoke on the agency’s efforts to address natural resource concerns, including groundwater decline. And, Christy Steward, environmental program coordinator with the Arkansas Department of Agriculture, reminded producers about the programs available to them, such as the groundwater conservation tax credits.

The morning’s program concluded with a farmers roundtable led by Dr. Jarrod Hardke, rice agronomist with the University of Arkansas (UofA), and featuring Becton Bell from Wilson; Dow Brantley from England, Jeff Rutledge from Newport, and Jim Whitaker from McGehee. These producers shared their thoughts on an array of topics including Farm Bill priorities, efforts to address high input costs and low commodity prices, and lower milling yields.

The meeting then broke for lunch and Michael Klamm, deputy regional director for the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) spoke, encouraging producers to complete their farm production surveys, while UofA Water Engineer Dr. Chris Henry encouraged producers to participate in the Most Crop Per Drop competition which is the only competition of its kind and is held each year.

After Arkansas Rice Federation Chair Dow Brantley conducted some brief Arkansas Rice Council business and announced the election results for the 10 rice districts, Robbins thanked attendees, speakers, exhibitors, and sponsors for their participation at the meeting.