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

DR Trade Mission, Bobby Hanks shops colorful rice aisle in Santo Domingo grocery store — Louisiana miller and USA Rice member Bobby Hanks shops the rice aisle at a Santo Domingo grocery store

Jul 18, 2025

SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (DR) — USA Rice was well represented within an agribusiness trade delegation here that included 47 agribusinesses and trade organizations led by Deputy U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Michelle Bekkering. Six USA Rice members joined the trade mission and participated in the business-to-business meetings to build new partnerships and increase sales opportunities. Additionally, four neighboring Haitian importers, invited by USA Rice, took part in the mission to engage directly with U.S. rice suppliers and further strengthen regional trade ties.

“This trade mission will connect U.S. exporters with key buyers, tapping into Latin America’s growing demand for high-quality American agricultural products, supporting rural prosperity and keeping American agriculture globally competitive,” said Deputy Under Secretary Bekkering.

On the sidelines of the formal trade mission program, USA Rice conducted critical, targeted meetings with Deputy Under Secretary Bekkering and USDA Foreign Agricultural Service Administrator Daniel Whitley to advocate for U.S. rice industry interests and address ongoing trade concerns and violations. USA Rice also met with the Dominican Rice Millers Association (ADOFA) to tackle critical non-tariff trade barriers that impact the flow of U.S.-origin rice into the Dominican market.

The Dominican Republic continues to present significant opportunities for U.S. agricultural producers, with an expanding middle class, steady economic growth, and a robust hotel and restaurant sector driving demand. The country ranks as the fourth-largest market for U.S. agricultural exports in the Western Hemisphere and is the leading export destination among the six countries covered by the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA). Since the implementation of DR-CAFTA, U.S. agricultural exports to the Dominican Republic have grown from $800 million in 2007 to $2.2 billion in 2024—a six percent increase over the previous year—with the U.S. supplying 44 percent of the country’s agricultural imports.

To protect local rice production and limit U.S. rice access as the market liberalizes under DR-CAFTA, Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader signed Decree 693-24 on December 17, 2024 (see USA Rice Daily, January 13, 2025). The decree establishes a 20 percent tariff within the existing World Trade Organization (WTO) quota for all rice imports, while a 23,300 metric ton (MT) duty-free quota is reserved for U.S. rice. Any U.S. rice imports beyond that quota will face the 99 percent tariff. This policy conflicts with the full market access commitments under DR-CAFTA, which, after a 17-year phase-out of duties and quotas, was set to allow completely duty-free access for U.S. rice starting January 1, 2025. Since the decree’s implementation, the Ministry of Agriculture has not issued a single import permit allowing for U.S. rice imports under the 23,300 MT quota. U.S. rice exports to the DR have dropped sharply to just over 2,000 MT from January-May 2025, compared to more than 36,000 MT during the same period last year.

“USA Rice has a long history of working in the Dominican Republic to support a safe and reliable food supply to meet the demand here through value-added milled rice exports,” said USA Rice Director of International Trade Policy Karah Janevicius. “The current trade environment is concerning for the stability of both the food supply as well as the partnerships built over the last twenty years.”

Janevicius continued: “We appreciate U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer’s attention to this concerning policy and support efforts to find a negotiated outcome that achieves transparent, fair, and reciprocal trade with the Dominican Republic, including the elimination of this Decree.”

USA Rice’s engagement on the ground underscores the industry’s commitment to ensuring stable and predictable access for U.S. rice exports, while supporting the mutual goal of strengthening trade ties between the two countries and the broader region.