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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.
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Central America
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Ghana
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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.
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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.
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Iraq
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Singapore
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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West Bank
Recent News
Homegrown display at Louisiana Food & Wine Festival
Sep 26, 2025
LOUISIANA RICE COUNTRY – September National Rice Month (NRM) is always a whirlwind of activity in Louisiana! There are so many celebrations, cooking contests, and charitable donations during NRM that they don't all fit. Stay tuned for the 88th International Rice Festival in Crowley, Louisiana, October 16-19.
Last week, the Calcasieu-Cameron Rice Growers Association celebrated NRM with their annual cooking contest, hosted at the Port of Lake Charles. Area high school students compete with favorite rice recipes for prizes and bragging rights. Ricky Self, executive director for the Port of Lake Charles, talked to the students about the importance of the rice industry and its economic impact in southwest Louisiana before they headed out on a tour of the port. Upon their return, the students, along with members of the Cal-Cam Rice Growers Association, enjoyed lunch, and recognized all the participants and their entries, including this year’s winners: Bella Cash from DeQuincy High School who took first place for her Chicken Wild Rice Soup, and Kyra Ramirez from Westlake High for her Heart-Healthy Mexican Chicken Tacos.
USA Rice also participated in the annual Louisiana Food & Wine Festival last weekend in Lake Charles. With samples of jasmine, long, medium, and parboiled rice, and low glycemic rice donated by Cajun Country, Farmers Rice Mill, Kennedy Rice Mill/4 Sisters Rice, Parish Rice, and Supreme Rice Mill to hand out, the USA Rice booth was bustling for two days as hundreds of foodies swarmed the event. The crawfish étouffée prepared by Supreme’s Henry Helo was also a crowd-pleaser, and though it wasn’t entered into the competitions, it would have done well!
Tomorrow, the football rivalry between the University of Louisiana Monroe Warhawks and the Arkansas State Red Wolves that has simmered for more than two decades, takes on new meaning for what has been dubbed the “Rice Bowl Rivalry” in partnership with USA Rice. The name is inspired by the miles of rice fields that lie between the universities’ campuses in Monroe, Louisiana, and Jonesboro, Arkansas, which yield some of the largest rice crops in the United States.
The Rice Bowl Rivalry game, which also serves as ULM’s 2025 Homecoming game, will kick off at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 27, at Malone Stadium in Monroe. The winner will take home the Rice Bowl trophy, newly created by USA Rice. The name of each year’s winner will be inscribed on the base of the trophy, which they will display until the next year’s matchup.
“Agriculture is such an integral part of the fabric of both of our states, and we are excited to host the first edition of the new ‘Rice Bowl Rivalry’ at ULM,” said ULM President Dr. Carrie L. Castille. “I’m grateful to President Kelly at ASU for seeing the value of coming together to celebrate the rich tradition of rice growing in our states and I offer a special thanks to USA Rice for their support. I am hopeful that this game will grow into a cherished tradition that we look forward to each year.”
USA Rice will also host a free tailgate in ULM’s Grove prior to the game, beginning at 12:00 p.m. The public is invited to try a variety of dishes made with U.S.-grown rice prepared by teams from each state. A panel of judges will choose a winner from all entries.
During the game, USA Rice members will make a donation to the Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana, consisting of donations made by rice growers from Arkansas and Louisiana.