Market research

Paddy rice market in Malaysia

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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File format: docx, xlsx

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Earlier Report Observations

Malaysia's paddy rice production began the period at 2 639 thousand tonnes in 2018, supported by the MADA Agricultural Development Authority's program focusing on water management, input supply, and timely planting. However, the sector faced persistent challenges including rising input costs and insufficient domestic output, leading to a drop to 2 353 thousand tonnes in 2019.

Production stabilized around 2 356 thousand tonnes in 2020 despite the reported shortcomings of the large-scale SMART SBB estate management initiative and adverse climate effects. A recovery to 2 442 thousand tonnes occurred in 2021 following substantial government budget allocations of RM1.5 billion to the paddy sector. This upturn was reversed in 2022 when output fell to 2 282 thousand tonnes, pressured by increased production costs and market imbalances that caused local white rice to disappear from shelves.

The decline continued to 2 175 thousand tonnes in 2023 as the rice self-sufficiency rate remained low at 56.2%, highlighting structural inefficiencies. During these years, government-linked companies invested in local startups, and authorities enforced distribution licenses under the Paddy and Rice Control Act 1994, aiming to transform the industry amidst ongoing dependency on imports.

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 Malaysia
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Malaysia in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Malaysia 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, 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, kg
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Malaysia in kind, 2018-2025, kg
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Malaysia by countries, 2018-2025, kg
    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 Malaysia in value, 2018-2025, $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Malaysia 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 Malaysia, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Malaysia 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, kg
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Malaysia in kind, 2018-2025, kg
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Malaysia by countries, 2018-2025, kg
    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 Malaysia in value, 2018-2025, $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Malaysia 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 Malaysia, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Malaysia 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, kg
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Malaysia in kind, 2018-2025, kg
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Malaysia by countries, 2018-2025, kg
    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 Malaysia in value, 2018-2025, $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Malaysia 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 Malaysia, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Malaysia 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, kg
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Malaysia in kind, 2018-2025, kg
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Malaysia by countries, 2018-2025, kg
    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 Malaysia in value, 2018-2025, $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Malaysia 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 Malaysia, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Malaysia by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, kg
  2. 8.1.2. In value, $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, kg
  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 Malaysia

In kind, 2018-2021, K t

From 2018 to 2021, Malaysia ranked as the 27th largest producer of paddy rice globally.

Top producers of paddy rice, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of paddy rice, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Malaysia's paddy rice production increased for the second year in a row. In 2021, the country produced 2 442 K t, marking a moderate rise of 3.6% from the previous year. Over the 2018-2021 period, overall production fell by 7.5%, with a compound annual growth rate of 2.6%. The lowest output was in 2019 at 2 353 K t, which also saw the steepest decline of 10.8%.

Annual dynamics of production in Malaysia in kind, 2018-2021, K t

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(10.8%)	0.1%	3.6%	(2.6%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports paddy rice from Malaysia

Exports in kind, kg

In 2021, Malaysia's paddy rice exports totaled 10 kg, a drop of 99.8% from the year before.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Malaysia in kind, 2018-2021, kg

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	(99.8%)	-

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2018 and 2021, Malaysia's paddy rice exports in volume were almost entirely directed to Brunei Darussalam, which accounted for 99.7% of the total.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, $ US

In 2021, Malaysia's paddy rice exports in value terms reached 5 US dollars, declining by 99.9% compared to the previous year.

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

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	(99.9%)	-

Source: SHEV.io

From 2018 to 2021, Brunei Darussalam was the primary and nearly exclusive destination for Malaysia's paddy rice exports by value, holding a 99.8% share.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports paddy rice to Malaysia

Imports in kind, kg

The data shows irregular shifts, pointing to a volatile market. Imports hit their lowest point in 2019 at 20 kg, with the largest decline that year of 96.7%. They then surged to 201 kg in 2020, an abrupt increase of 905.0% from 2019. Overall, imports varied 30-fold between the peak in 2018 and the trough in 2019.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Malaysia in kind, 2018-2021, kg

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(96.7%)	905.0%	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

During 2018-2021, Singapore was the main source for paddy rice imports into Malaysia, making up 73.1% of the total volume, while other origins played a much smaller role.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, $ US

The market exhibited volatility over the observed years. Imports reached their minimum in 2019 at 40 US dollars, with the biggest drop that year of 95.5%. They then climbed to 268 US dollars in 2020, a sharp rise of 576.6% from 2019. From the high in 2018 to the low in 2019, imports changed by a factor of 22.

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

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(95.5%)	576.6%	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

From 2018 to 2021, Singapore led the partner structure for paddy rice imports by value, accounting for 74.2% of total flows; other markets had relatively minor shares.

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Malaysia in value, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io