Rice market in CIS

Earlier Report Observations

The rice market in the CIS grew to 2 360 thousand tons in 2019, driven by expanded sown areas and increased harvests in Russia, where production profitability had risen to 34% the previous year. Imports also rose, peaking at 392 thousand tons. In 2020, market volume held nearly steady at 2 349 thousand tons as record Russian production was offset by higher retail prices and a drop in imports.

A two‑year decline followed, with the market shrinking to 2 121 thousand tons by 2022. This was primarily due to a contraction in sown area and a severe irrigation accident at the Fedorov hydro unit in Krasnodar Krai, which drastically reduced yields. Export restrictions on rough rice, introduced in 2021 and extended through 2026, further reshaped trade but could not offset the production shortfall.

The market rebounded strongly in 2023, reaching 2 465 thousand tons. Production recovered as the sector overcame the previous year’s water‑supply issues, and profitability soared to 83.5% thanks to improved technologies. Continued export limits on unprocessed rice kept more supply within the region, while imports rose to 388 thousand tons.

Production rice in CIS

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of rice, 2017-2020

World map of production of rice, 2017-2020

Rice production in the CIS has grown for the second year in a row. In 2020, the region produced 2,179 thousand tons of rice, marking a 2.2% increase from the previous year. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production rose by 7.7%, which translates to an average annual growth rate of 2.5%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2018 at 1,885 thousand tons, when output fell by 6.8%. In contrast, the largest increase occurred in 2019, with production jumping by 13.1%.

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

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Following two years of growth, rice production in the CIS saw a decline. In 2020, the value of rice output in the CIS was $1,269 million, down 5.3% from the year before. Over the 2017-2020 period, production value increased by 27.7%, with a compound annual growth rate of 8.5%. The peak value was reached in 2019 at $1,340 million, when production surged by 21.5%.

Annual dynamics of production in CIS in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Exports rice from CIS

Exports in kind, K t

Rice exports from the CIS have increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, the CIS exported 167.3 thousand tons of rice, up 1.3% from 2019. However, from 2017 to 2020, exports overall decreased by 18.1%, averaging an annual decline of 6.4%. The lowest export volume was in 2018 at 163.3 thousand tons, which saw a significant drop of 20.1%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, CIS rice was exported to a wide range of markets. The top destinations were Turkey, accounting for 22.2% of exports in volume, Belgium at 7.3%, and Ukraine at 6.6%. Together, these three countries made up 36.1% of total exports, while numerous smaller markets contributed the remaining 63.9%.

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

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

Exports in value, M $ US

In 2020, the CIS exported $97.4 million worth of rice, a decrease of 6.1% compared to the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, export value fell by 2.9%, with an average annual decline of 1.0%. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at $95.5 million, while the peak was in 2019 at $103.7 million, when exports increased by 8.6%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, key buyers of CIS rice included Turkey, with 22.7% of export value, Ukraine at 7.3%, and Mongolia at 6.6%. While these countries played a significant role, their combined share of total export value was 36.7%, indicating a diverse market with many other importers.

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

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

Imports rice to CIS

Imports in kind, K t

After two years of growth, rice imports into the CIS declined. In 2020, imports amounted to 336.6 thousand tons, a 14.2% drop from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, import volumes increased by 9.7%, with an average annual growth rate of 3.1%. The highest import level was in 2019 at 392.1 thousand tons, which saw a notable increase of 19.2%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, the main suppliers of rice to the CIS were India, contributing 30.3% of imports by volume, Thailand at 12.7%, and Pakistan at 11.3%. Together, these three countries accounted for 54.3% of total imports.

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

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

Imports in value, M $ US

Following two years of increase, the value of rice imports into the CIS fell. In 2020, imports were valued at $219.7 million, down 11.8% from the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, import value rose by 9.7%, averaging 3.1% per year. The peak was in 2019 at $219.7 million, when imports grew by 16.3%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, India remained the leading supplier of rice to the CIS in value terms, accounting for 36.0% of imports, followed by Thailand at 13.5% and Pakistan at 10.5%. These three countries together made up 59.9% of total import value.

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

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