Market research

Paddy rice market in Central America

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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"Central America" region includes following countries:

Belize

Costa Rica

El Salvador

Guatemala

Honduras

Mexico

Nicaragua

Panama

Earlier Report Observations

In 2018, a severe drought in Honduras cut rice production in half, tightening domestic supply across Central America. The region's paddy rice market volume reached 2446 thousand tons that year but fell sharply to 2004 thousand tons in 2019 before recovering to 2628 thousand tons in 2020.

From 2021 onward, government policies significantly reshaped the market. Honduras introduced a Productive Technology Bonus to stem the decline in national production, while in 2022 Costa Rica launched its 'Rice Route,' slashing import tariffs and removing price controls to encourage imports. Panama also eliminated price controls on first-quality rice due to market distortions and shortages. These measures led to a surge in imports, which, coupled with a drop in domestic production in Costa Rica, pushed the regional market volume to 2806 thousand tons in 2023.

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 Central America
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Central America 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, K t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Belize in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Belize by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Belize in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Belize by countries, 2018-2024, M $ 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 Belize, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Belize 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, K t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Belize in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Belize by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Belize in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Belize by countries, 2018-2024, M $ 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 Belize, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Belize 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, K t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Belize in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Belize by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Belize in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Belize by countries, 2018-2024, M $ 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 Belize, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Belize 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, K t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Belize in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Belize by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Belize in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Belize by countries, 2018-2024, M $ 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 Belize, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Belize by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, M $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, M $ 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 paddy rice in Central America

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of paddy rice, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of paddy rice, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

In 2020, Central America produced 1 428 K t of paddy rice, representing a 4.7% increase compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 10.1%, which translates to an average annual growth rate of 3.3%. The largest annual increase occurred in 2018 at 6.4%, while the most significant decline was recorded in 2019 at 1.2%.

Annual dynamics of production in Central America in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	6.4%	(1.2%)	4.7%	3.3%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports paddy rice from Central America

Exports in kind, K t

The data reveals irregular changes, indicating a volatile market environment. Exports reached their lowest point in 2019 and peaked in 2020, with a 4.3-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Central America's paddy rice exports totaled 1 K t, marking a sharp increase of 326.9% from 2019. The minimum value was recorded in 2019 at 0.3 K t. The largest decline occurred in 2018, with a drop of 27.1%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(27.1%)	(1.3%)	326.9%	45.4%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Venezuela was the largest destination for Central America's paddy rice exports in kind, accounting for 16.4% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Central America in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, M $ US

The market showed signs of volatility over the observed period. The lowest exports were recorded in 2019, with the highest in 2020, reflecting a 3.5-fold gap. In 2020, Central America exported 0.9 M $ US of paddy rice, amounting to a steep improvement of 250.0% over the previous year. The minimum value was recorded in 2019 at 0.2 M $ US. The largest decline occurred in 2019, with a drop of 26.1%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	1.0%	(26.1%)	250.0%	37.7%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Venezuela was the leading destination in the structure of exports in value terms, taking 18.1% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Central America in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports paddy rice to Central America

Imports in kind, K t

Volatility characterized the market behavior during these years. Imports hit their lowest point in 2019 and peaked in 2020, with a 1.9-fold gap. In 2020, Central America imported 1 201 K t of paddy rice, up by 87.4% year-over-year. The minimum value was recorded in 2019 at 641 K t. The largest decline occurred in 2019, with a drop of 39.9%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	9.7%	(39.9%)	87.4%	7.3%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the United States remained the main market for imports in kind, with a share of 72.7% of total flows, while the rest of the volume was distributed across numerous other destinations.

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Central America in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, M $ US

There were noticeable fluctuations in market performance during the period. Imports varied from a low in 2019 to a high in 2020, with a 2.7-fold difference. In 2020, imported paddy rice volumes in Central America stood at 560.4 M $ US, showing an abrupt advance of 166.1% relative to the prior year. The minimum value was recorded in 2019 at 210.6 M $ US. The largest decline occurred in 2019, with a drop of 58.7%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	15.1%	(58.7%)	166.1%	8.2%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the United States was the principal market for paddy rice to Central America, accounting for 75.2% of total imports in value terms, while other destinations formed a less significant portion.

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Central America in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io