Market research

Rice market in Bhutan

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

Report language:

Report language:

Submission method: to your account

File format: docx, xlsx

Single Report

$500

Instant access to detailed data on one specific market
Ideal for one-off tasks: niche assessments, presentations, investment decisions
Available in Excel and Word in 15 minutes after purchase
Cheaper than subscription, but each market requires a separate purchase

Best if you know exactly what you need

Buy a single report

Platform Subscription

from$600

Complete and unlimited data access across products and regions
Includes continuous data updates during subscription period
Download reports instantly in Word, and Excel formats
More cost-effective for multiple markets or regular analysis

Ideal for regular data users

View pricing plans

Earlier Report Observations

Rice production in Bhutan declined from 63 890 t in 2018 to 40 804 t in 2023. This drop was driven by persistent labour shortages, contracting farmland, and increasing human-wildlife conflicts that damaged crops. These challenges made rice farming less economically attractive, leading to a decline in the number of farmers, particularly in upland paddy cultivation.

Despite falling domestic output, the total rice market volume fluctuated based on import levels. Imports rose from 71 511 t in 2018 to 94 601 t in 2023, offsetting the production decline and keeping the market size above 130 000 t in most years. However, in 2021, a sharp reduction in imports to 57 514 t, coupled with low production, caused the market volume to fall to 98 022 t.

By 2025, production challenges remained, with irrigated paddy output showing a slight increase of 1.94% but upland paddy falling by 23%. India's export limit of 79 000 t per year to Bhutan, introduced in 2022, did not immediately affect market availability, and imports continued to play a critical role in meeting demand.

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, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Bhutan in value, 2018-2025, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Bhutan by countries, 2018-2025, K $ 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/kg
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Bhutan, 2018-2025, $ US/kg
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Bhutan by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/kg
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, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Bhutan in value, 2018-2025, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Bhutan by countries, 2018-2025, K $ 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/kg
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Bhutan, 2018-2025, $ US/kg
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Bhutan by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/kg
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, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Bhutan in value, 2018-2025, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Bhutan by countries, 2018-2025, K $ 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/kg
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Bhutan, 2018-2025, $ US/kg
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Bhutan by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/kg
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, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Bhutan in value, 2018-2025, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Bhutan by countries, 2018-2025, K $ 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/kg
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Bhutan, 2018-2025, $ US/kg
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Bhutan by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/kg
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, K $ 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 rice in Bhutan

In kind, 2018-2021, t

Top producers of rice, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of rice, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

In 2021, Bhutan produced 40,508 tons of rice, marking a 25.1% decrease compared to 2020. Looking at the period from 2018 to 2021, production fell by 36.6%, which translates to an average annual decline of 14.1%. The most significant increase occurred in 2020, with production rising 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 rice from Bhutan

Exports in kind, t

The market exhibited notable volatility during the observed period. Exports reached their lowest point in 2021 and peaked in 2019, with a 183-fold difference between these years. In 2021, Bhutan's cross-border shipments of rice totaled 0.1 tons, representing a substantial increase of 164.8% compared to the previous year.

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

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	164.8%	n/a	n/a	(75.6%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2018 to 2021, India and Singapore formed a highly concentrated pair of markets for Bhutan's rice exports in kind, together accounting for 99.9% of total flows.

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, K $ US

The market demonstrated significant volatility over the observed period. Exports bottomed in 2021 and peaked in 2019, with a 17-fold difference between these years. In 2021, the value of rice leaving Bhutan amounted to 1,000 US dollars, reflecting a sharp year-over-year increase of 108.9%.

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

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	108.9%	n/a	n/a	(50.4%)

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2018 and 2021, Singapore and India clearly dominated the partner structure for Bhutan's rice exports in value terms, while other countries collectively made up the remaining share.

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 rice to Bhutan

Imports in kind, t

After a two-year increase, Bhutan's rice imports from abroad declined. In 2021, imports stood at 57,514 tons, showing a steep reduction of 36.0% year-over-year. Over the period from 2018 to 2021, imports decreased by 19.6%, with a compound annual growth rate of -7.0%. The largest increase was recorded in 2019 at 18.3%, while the maximum value occurred in 2020 with 89,903 tons.

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

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	18.3%	6.3%	(36.0%)	(7.0%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2018 to 2021, Bhutan's rice imports in kind were heavily oriented towards India, which held a 100.0% share of total imports.

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, K $ US

Following a two-year advance, Bhutan's imported rice volumes declined. In 2021, imports totaled 24,384,000 US dollars, down by 31.1% compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2018 to 2021, imports decreased by 11.5%, with a compound annual growth rate of -4.0%. The largest increase was recorded in 2020 at 15.5%, while the maximum value also occurred in 2020 with 35,406,000 US dollars.

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