Market research

Brown rice market in Eastern Africa

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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"Eastern Africa" region includes following countries:

British Indian Ocean Territory

Burundi

Comoros

Mayotte

Ethiopia

Eritrea

French Southern Territories

Djibouti

Kenya

Madagascar

Malawi

Mauritius

Mozambique

Reunion

Rwanda

Seychelles

Somalia

Zimbabwe

South Sudan

Uganda

Tanzania

Zambia

Earlier Report Observations

Brown rice production in Eastern Africa increased from 2 244 thousand tonnes in 2018 to 2 803 thousand tonnes in 2023, driven by government policies and agricultural improvements. Tanzania introduced import restrictions in September 2018 to protect domestic producers, while Kenya expanded rice schemes and double cropping, boosting paddy output. The release of improved rice varieties, such as those developed by Uganda's National Agricultural Research Organisation and Tanzania's Agricultural Research Institute, addressed climate challenges and enhanced yields.

Infrastructure development and international cooperation further accelerated growth. Kenya's Thiba Dam project doubled local rice production by improving irrigation, and collaborations with Korea introduced high-yielding varieties. Sustainable practices promoted through Uganda's ECO-PRiDe project and farmer training on Sustainable Rice Platform standards increased productivity and resilience. These factors raised the regional market volume from 2 287 thousand tonnes to 2 807 thousand tonnes over the period.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Eastern Africa
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Eastern Africa in kind, 2018-2023, K t
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/kg
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/kg
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/kg
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/kg
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, K $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production brown rice in Eastern Africa

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of brown rice, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of brown rice, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Eastern Africa's brown rice production declined for the second year in a row. In 2020, the region produced 2 218 thousand tonnes of brown rice, showing little change from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, production grew by 10.1%, with an average annual growth rate of 3.3%. The highest production was recorded in 2018 at 2 244 thousand tonnes, which marked an 11.4% increase. The largest decline occurred in 2019, with a drop of 0.7%.

Annual dynamics of production in Eastern Africa in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	11.4%	(0.7%)	(0.5%)	3.3%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports brown rice from Eastern Africa

Exports in kind, K t

The export market showed significant volatility during this period. Exports varied widely, with the lowest point in 2017 and the highest in 2020, representing a 32-fold difference. In 2020, Eastern Africa exported 3.8 thousand tonnes of brown rice, a sharp increase of 1,489.3% compared to the previous year. The largest decline was recorded in 2019, with an 82.6% drop.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Eastern Africa in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	1 064.1%	(82.6%)	1 489.3%	218.3%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the Democratic Republic of the Congo was the primary market for brown rice exports from Eastern Africa, accounting for 27.6% of total exports by volume.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Eastern Africa in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

The export market in value terms was highly unstable. The lowest value occurred in 2017, while the highest was in 2020, with a peak-to-trough ratio of 14.9 times. In 2020, foreign brown rice supplies from Eastern Africa amounted to 2 023 thousand US dollars, an 842.5% increase year-over-year. The largest decline was in 2019, with an 84.8% drop, and the largest increase was in 2018, with a 938.8% rise.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Eastern Africa in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	938.8%	(84.8%)	842.5%	146.2%

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the United Arab Emirates together accounted for 11.2% of total exports in value terms, making them the main markets for brown rice from Eastern Africa.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Eastern Africa in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports brown rice to Eastern Africa

Imports in kind, K t

Import volumes were volatile from 2017 to 2020, with a peak-to-trough amplitude of 3.1 times. In 2020, Eastern Africa imported approximately 42.2 thousand tonnes of brown rice, a sudden decline of 36.6% compared to 2019. The largest decline was recorded in 2018, with a 66.9% drop, while the largest increase occurred in 2019, with a 51.5% rise.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Eastern Africa in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(66.9%)	51.5%	(36.6%)	(31.7%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Pakistan, Thailand, and China were the main sources of brown rice imports to Eastern Africa by volume. Pakistan accounted for 61.9% of imports, Thailand for 11.7%, and China for 5.9%, together making up 79.5% of total import flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Eastern Africa in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

The import market in value terms exhibited an unstable trend. Imports reached their highest point in 2017 and fell to their lowest in 2020, with a 3.4-fold difference between these years. In 2020, the volume of brown rice imports to Eastern Africa totalled 21 621 thousand US dollars, showing a steep loss of 42.4% year-over-year. The largest decline was in 2018, with a 68.0% drop, and the largest increase was in 2019, with a 57.7% rise.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Eastern Africa in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(68.0%)	57.7%	(42.4%)	(33.8%)

Source: SHEV.io

Over the 2017-2020 period, Pakistan, China, and Thailand remained the leading sources of brown rice imports to Eastern Africa in value terms. Pakistan accounted for 54.1% of imports, China for 15.5%, and Thailand for 10.9%, together representing 80.5% of total import flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Eastern Africa in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io