Brown rice market in Southern Asia

Earlier Report Observations

The brown rice market in Southern Asia, predominantly India, experienced a sharp contraction in available volume from 980,000 t in 2018 to 740,000 t in 2019. This was primarily due to India's emergence as the world's largest rice exporter following the removal of the non-basmati rice export ban, which spurred a dramatic increase in overseas shipments. Exports rose from 84,000 t to 274,000 t over the year, while imports collapsed from 259,000 t to just 15,000 t. Despite geographic challenges and strict regulations in some destination countries, India's export competitiveness remained strong throughout 2019 and 2020, keeping the market volume subdued near 715,000 t even as production grew.

From 2021 onward, production expansion became a key driver, lifting the market volume to 822,000 t. That year, brown rice exports reportedly grew by 40% year-on-year, though demand in major markets remained low. To address domestic inflation and food security, the government introduced a 20% export duty on husked, brown, and semi-milled rice in September 2022, along with a ban on exports of broken non-basmati organic rice. These restrictive measures contributed to a decline in export volumes in 2022, helping to stabilize the domestic market around 820,000 t. By 2023, further production growth pushed the market volume above 1 million t. In 2024, India's decision to halt rice exports signaled continued policy volatility aimed at managing internal stocks and prices.

Production brown rice in Southern Asia

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of brown rice, 2017-2020

World map of production of brown rice, 2017-2020

Brown rice production in Southern Asia has increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the region produced 1,086 thousand tonnes of brown rice, marking an 8.7% rise compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 42.1%, with a compound annual growth rate of 12.4%.

Annual dynamics of production in Southern Asia in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Exports brown rice from Southern Asia

Exports in kind, K t

The market performance showed noticeable fluctuations during this period. Exports reached their lowest point in 2018 at 83.9 thousand tonnes, then peaked in 2020 at 383.3 thousand tonnes, representing a 4.6-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Southern Asia exported 383.3 thousand tonnes of brown rice, which was a 40.2% increase from the previous year. The largest decline occurred in 2018, falling by 17.6%, while the most significant increase was recorded in 2019, surging by 225.9%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the United Kingdom, Belgium, and Italy were the primary destinations for Southern Asia's brown rice exports in kind. The United Kingdom accounted for 24.7% of exports, Belgium for 15.8%, and Italy for 13.2%. Together, these three countries represented 53.7% of total export flows.

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

World map of product's exports from Southern Asia in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, M $ US

The value of brown rice exports from Southern Asia has risen for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the region exported brown rice worth 310.9 million US dollars, showing a sharp increase of 32.7% compared to 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, export values grew by 359%, with a compound annual growth rate of 66.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Southern Asia in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Between 2017 and 2020, the United Kingdom, Belgium, and Italy accounted for the largest share of brown rice exports from Southern Asia in value terms. The United Kingdom represented 25.8% of exports, Belgium 17.0%, and Italy 14.0%. Collectively, these three countries comprised 56.8% of total export flows.

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

World map of product's exports from Southern Asia in value, 2017-2020

Imports brown rice to Southern Asia

Imports in kind, K t

Brown rice imports into Southern Asia have declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the region imported 12.8 thousand tonnes of brown rice, representing a 15.2% decrease compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports fell by 97.6%, equating to an annualized decline rate of 71.1%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Vietnam, Thailand, and Myanmar were the leading suppliers of brown rice to Southern Asia in kind. Vietnam and Thailand each accounted for 29.2% of imports, while Myanmar represented 24.8%. Together, these three countries supplied 83.1% of total imports.

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

World map of product's imports to Southern Asia in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, M $ US

Market behavior during these years was characterized by volatility. Imports reached their lowest point in 2019 at 10.1 million US dollars, then increased to 11.0 million US dollars in 2020, showing a 24-fold difference from the peak in 2017. In 2020, brown rice imports into Southern Asia amounted to 11.0 million US dollars, constituting a moderate year-on-year increase of 9.0%. The largest decline occurred in 2019, falling by 92.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Southern Asia in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Between 2017 and 2020, Thailand, Vietnam, and Myanmar were the main sources of brown rice imports into Southern Asia in value terms. Thailand accounted for 29.1% of imports, Vietnam for 28.8%, and Myanmar for 23.4%. Collectively, these three countries represented 81.3% of total import flows.

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

World map of product's imports to Southern Asia in value, 2017-2020