Half of the world's population depends primarily on rice for their food (Shutterstock)

Rice is one of the most important staple crops around the world, and has a major impact on agriculture and global food security. It is the most consumed in developing countries, while wheat comes in second place.

Half of the world's population depends primarily on rice for their food, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

South America, Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa are the three regions with the highest consumption rates.

As for our Arab world, rice is considered an indispensable dish on all tables, especially in the holy month of Ramadan, as it is included in the ingredients of most Arab popular foods such as: Yemeni mandi, Jordanian mansaf, Gulf makbous/kabsa, Iraqi quzi, Palestinian maqluba, and all kinds of mahshi. , Egyptian perennial rice, and many other foods and cuisines that rely on rice as their main ingredient.

We will learn about the largest producers, exporters and importers of rice, including our Arab world, and some facts about this important commodity.

Global rice production volume

According to the FAO, the volume of global rice production is expected to reach 526.2 million tons in the 2023/2024 season, an increase of 0.4% above the reference level for the 2022/2023 period.

The volume of global rice exports

Global rice exports reached more than 52 million metric tons in the 2022/2023 commercial year, according to the specialized Statista platform.

The total value of rice exports exceeded $29.3 billion in 2022 (Reuters)

The 10 largest rice producing countries

According to the FAO, the top 10 rice producing countries during the 2023-2024 season are:

1- China: 149 million tons

2- India: 132 million tons

3- Bangladesh: 36.4 million tons

4- Indonesia: 34.4 million tons

5- Vietnam: 27 million tons

6- Thailand: 19.5 million tons

7- Philippines: 12.6 million tons

8- Burma: 12 million tons

9- Pakistan: 9 million tons

10- Japan: 7.3 million tons

Top 10 rice exporting countries

The total value of global rice exports reached $29.3 billion in 2022, an increase of 8.7% compared to 2021 when the total value of rice shipments reached $26.9 billion.

Rice cultivation techniques have been passed down through generations with traditional practices such as crop rotation (Getty)

The following is a list of the largest rice exporting countries, according to the World's Top Export organization, denominated in dollars:

1- India: $10.8 billion (36.8% of total global rice exports)

2- Thailand: $4 billion (13.5%)

3- Vietnam: $2.5 billion (8.6%)

4- Pakistan: $2.4 billion (8%)

5- United States: $1.7 billion (5.8%)

6- China: $1 billion (3.5%)

7- Italy: $804.7 million (2.7%)

8- Myanmar: $786.8 million (2.7%)

9- Brazil: $657.5 million (2.2%)

10- Belgium: $515.6 million (1.8%)

The top 10 rice importing countries

Below is a list of the largest countries importing rice in 2023, according to the “Trade Mix” platform:

1- China: $2.62 billion (7.9% of global imports)

2- Iran: $2.05 billion (6.2%)

3- United States: $1.40 billion (4.3%)

4- Saudi Arabia: $1.38 billion (4.2%)

5- Philippines: $1.27 billion (3.9%)

6- Iraq: $1.11 billion (3.4%)

7- Ivory Coast: $809.96 million (2.5%)

8- Vietnam: $689.62 million (2.1%)

9- Japan: $670.35 million (2%)

10- France: $655.93 million (2%)

The top 5 Arab countries producing rice for the 2023/2024 season, according to the Agricultural Production Organization:

1- Egypt: 3.78 million tons

2- Mauritania: 240 thousand tons

3- Morocco: 45 thousand tons

4- Iraq: 20 thousand tons

5- Somalia: one thousand tons

The volume of global rice production is 526.2 million tons in the 2023/2024 season (Reuters)

Facts you may not know about rice

  • Rice cultivation began more than 9 thousand years ago

Humans have cultivated rice more than 9,000 years ago, and there is evidence that it began in China, Southeast Asia and India. Farming techniques have been passed down through generations, and many traditional practices are still in use today, such as wet rice cultivation, crop rotation, and irrigation systems.

  • 120 thousand types of rice

There are more than 120,000 different types of rice, each with its own unique texture, starch content, flavor and nutritional profile. The most widely consumed type is white rice, because it is affordable, widely available, and easy to prepare.

  • Excellent source of carbohydrates

Rice is an excellent source of carbohydrates, an important macronutrient that plays a major role in providing energy to the body, improving brain function, and reducing the risk of heart disease. However, not all types of rice are equal regarding their nutrient content. For example, brown rice contains a higher percentage of fiber and nutrients than white rice.

  • An essential ingredient in cosmetics

Rice is an essential ingredient in many beauty products, including face masks, hair treatments and scrubs, due to its natural, gentle properties that provide moisturizing and nourishing benefits. Many Asian countries have a long history of using rice in beauty products.

  • Symbol of fertility and prosperity

In some cultures, rice is a symbol of fertility and prosperity, and is often used in religious ceremonies or customs. In Japan, for example, rice is considered a sacred crop and is commonly used in weddings and other traditional ceremonies.

Likewise, in Thailand, rice plays an essential role in many religious occasions, and is given as a gift to monks and other "spiritual figures" of some peoples.

Source: Al Jazeera