Market research

Paddy rice market in Bhutan

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

The paddy rice market volume in Bhutan fell from 63 964 t in 2018 to 40 965 t in 2023, a decline largely driven by structural challenges in domestic production. Decreasing interest among farmers in paddy cultivation, sustained labor shortages due to rural-urban migration, and limited arable land reduced harvests. Government initiatives promoting mechanization and climate-resilient practices, such as spring paddy cultivation, were introduced but could not fully offset these losses.

Key pressures intensified in 2019 when over 8 957 acres of wetland were left fallow, significantly cutting planted area. Subsequent years saw production further hampered by disease outbreaks like rice blast and persistent crop damage from wildlife, which lowered yields. These factors, combined with a shift in land use toward more profitable vegetables and cash crops, continued to constrain output despite policy efforts under the 13th Five Year Plan.

By 2022-2023, the market volume stabilized around 41 000 t, though rice self-sufficiency dropped sharply to 25.5%. Farmer numbers kept declining, and consumer preferences gradually shifted toward wheat and buckwheat. Ongoing diversification into maize, mandarin, and kiwi production reflected a broader move away from paddy, even as authorities emphasized upland paddy cultivation and disease-resistant varieties to sustain the sector.

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, 2018-2025
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2025
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Bhutan
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Bhutan in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Bhutan in value, 2018-2023, $ US
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, 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, 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 Bhutan in kind, 2018-2025, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Bhutan by countries, 2018-2025, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Bhutan in value, 2018-2025, $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Bhutan by countries, 2018-2025, $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Bhutan, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Bhutan by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/t
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 Bhutan in kind, 2018-2025, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Bhutan by countries, 2018-2025, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Bhutan in value, 2018-2025, $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Bhutan by countries, 2018-2025, $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Bhutan, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Bhutan by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/t
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 Bhutan in kind, 2018-2025, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Bhutan by countries, 2018-2025, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Bhutan in value, 2018-2025, $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Bhutan by countries, 2018-2025, $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Bhutan, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Bhutan by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/t
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 Bhutan in kind, 2018-2025, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Bhutan by countries, 2018-2025, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Bhutan in value, 2018-2025, $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Bhutan by countries, 2018-2025, $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Bhutan, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Bhutan by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2025
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 paddy rice in Bhutan

In kind, 2018-2021, t

Top producers of paddy rice, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of paddy rice, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

In 2021, Bhutan produced 40 508 tons of paddy rice, marking a significant 25.1% decline compared to 2020. Over the 2018-2021 period, production fell by 36.6%, with an average annual decrease of 14.1%. The only notable increase occurred in 2020, when production rose by 8.3%.

Annual dynamics of production in Bhutan in kind, 2018-2021, t

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(21.8%)	8.3%	(25.1%)	(14.1%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports paddy rice from Bhutan

Exports in kind, t

Bhutan's exports of paddy rice dropped sharply to 0.8 tons in 2019, representing a 66.7% decrease from 2018.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Bhutan in kind, 2018-2021, t

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(66.7%)	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

From 2018 to 2021, India was the sole buyer of paddy rice from Bhutan, accounting for 100.0% of total exports in volume.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Bhutan in kind, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, $ US

In 2019, Bhutan exported paddy rice worth 227 US dollars, a sharp 56.8% decline from the previous year.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Bhutan in value, 2018-2021, $ US

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(56.8%)	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2018 and 2021, India was the exclusive destination for Bhutan's paddy rice exports, absorbing 100.0% of the total export value.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Bhutan in value, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Imports paddy rice to Bhutan

Imports in kind, t

Bhutan's paddy rice imports continued to decline for the second year in a row. In 2021, imports stood at 29.6 tons, down 68.2% from 2020. Over the 2018-2021 period, imports decreased by 61.4%, equivalent to an annualized rate of 27.2%. The peak import volume was recorded in 2019 at 115.0 tons, which also saw the largest increase of 49.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Bhutan in kind, 2018-2021, t

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	49.9%	(18.9%)	(68.2%)	(27.2%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2018 to 2021, the import market was highly concentrated, with India responsible for 99.5% of total imports in volume.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Bhutan in kind, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, $ US

The import market showed an unstable trend during this period. Import values fluctuated significantly, with a 2.5-fold difference between the high in 2020 and the low in 2021. In 2021, Bhutan imported paddy rice worth 9 979 US dollars, a 60.0% drop from the previous year. The highest import value was recorded in 2020 at 24 965 US dollars, which also experienced the largest increase of 74.0%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Bhutan in value, 2018-2021, $ US