Volume of rice imported in Canada 2008-2023

In 2023, Canada imported over 581,280 metric tons of rice, increasing from around 370,500 metric tons the previous year. Rice is a type of grain that comes in thousands of varieties. It is consumed all over the world and is an essential part of more than half the global population’s diet. 

U.S. rice production

Each year, the amount of rice produced in the United States differs: in 2022, the country was responsible for an estimated 160.4 million cwt of rice, a decrease from around 227.5 million cwt two years prior. Some of 2021’s top rice-producing states included California, Louisiana, and Texas. The leading state, however, was Arkansas, which cultivated approximately 80.3 million cwt that year.

Global rice imports and exports

In the fiscal year of 2022/23, India exported about 21.5 million metric tons of rice, making India the export leader. Thailand ranked second with an export volume of about 8.2 million metric tons. Despite also being one of the world's leading rice exporters, China imported the highest volume of the grain during the same period. Chinese rice imports amounted to roughly 5.2 million metric tons, while the country’s exports reached around 2.2 million metric tons.