Market research

Paddy rice market in Nepal, 2026

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

The market volume for paddy rice in Nepal fluctuated between 5.8 million tons and 6.2 million tons from 2018 to 2023. Production saw a slight dip in 2019, stabilized by road infrastructure improvements that enhanced irrigation efficiency and market access. A recovery in 2020 was supported by policy measures focusing on soil fertility and bio-fertilizers, which boosted yields.

In 2021, market volume declined to 5.9 million tons as domestic production dropped, despite increased imports to address regional food deficits. During this period, new aromatic and high-value rice segments emerged, shifting consumer preferences and encouraging market diversification. Regulatory efforts to improve storage infrastructure aimed at reducing post-harvest losses also gained momentum.

The market expanded again in 2022 and 2023, reaching over 6.1 million tons, driven by increased industrial investment in rice milling facilities and technological adoption such as mechanized irrigation and rice mills. Improved access to agricultural financing through collaborations like JICA and JERI surveys further enabled farmers to enhance productivity, while state-owned institutions contributed to technical advancements.

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 Nepal
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Nepal in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Nepal 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, K t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Nepal in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Nepal 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 Nepal in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Nepal 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/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Nepal, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Nepal by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
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 Nepal in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Nepal 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 Nepal in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Nepal 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/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Nepal, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Nepal by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
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 Nepal in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Nepal 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 Nepal in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Nepal 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/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Nepal, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Nepal by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
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 Nepal in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Nepal 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 Nepal in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Nepal 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/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Nepal, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Nepal by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
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 Nepal

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, Nepal ranked 15th globally in paddy rice production volume.

Top producers of paddy rice, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of paddy rice, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

In 2020, Nepal produced 5 622 K t of paddy rice, representing a 1.3% increase from the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 9.1%, which translates to an annualized rate of 3.0%. The largest annual increase occurred in 2018 at 8.9%, while the largest decline was in 2019 at 1.1%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	8.9%	(1.1%)	1.3%	3.0%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports paddy rice from Nepal

Exports in kind, K t

Nepal's cross-border shipments of paddy rice increased for the second consecutive year. In 2019, exports reached 0.0 K t, marking a 221.2% rise year-over-year. From 2017 to 2019, exports surged by 7 168.9%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 317.3%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	2 162.7%	221.2%	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, India was the primary and nearly exclusive market for Nepal's paddy rice exports in kind, accounting for 97.9% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, M $ US

Nepal's paddy rice exports in value terms increased for the second consecutive year. In 2019, exports amounted to 0.1 M $ US, up by 92.7% year-over-year. From 2017 to 2019, exports grew by 1 765.4%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 165.2%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	868.2%	92.7%	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

During 2017–2020, the partner base for Nepal's paddy rice exports in value terms was extremely narrow, with India alone responsible for 95.9% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports paddy rice to Nepal

Imports in kind, K t

Nepal's paddy rice import volumes increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports totaled 453.5 K t, showing a dramatic uptick of 70.8% from 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, imports rose by 143.8%, equating to an annualized rate of 34.6%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	27.7%	11.8%	70.8%	34.6%

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout 2017–2020, the partner structure for Nepal's paddy rice imports in kind was dominated by India, which consistently accounted for 100.0% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, M $ US

Nepal's paddy rice import volumes in value terms increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports came to 112.4 M $ US, up by 61.2% relative to the prior year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports grew by 140.4%, equating to an annualized rate of 34.0%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	30.9%	13.9%	61.2%	34.0%

Source: SHEV.io

Over 2017–2020, the structure of Nepal's paddy rice imports in value terms was dominated by a single market: India, with a share of 99.5% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io