White rice imports remain stable, broken rice purchases fall sharply
The European Union’s rice imports from third countries declined by 11% y-o-y during the 2025/26 marketing campaign, reaching 1.6 million metric tonnes (mnt) (milled equivalent) as of 28 June 2026, compared with 1.8 mnt during the corresponding period last year. The decline was largely driven by lower imports of broken rice, although purchases of husked rice and paddy recorded an increase.
Broken rice imports fall sharply
Imports of broken rice registered the steepest decline among all categories, falling 43% y-o-y during the campaign. Myanmar remained the leading supplier; however, its share in EU broken rice imports declined by more than 10 percentage points compared with the previous marketing year.
In contrast, imports of white and semi-milled rice remained largely unchanged at around 890,000 t, accounting for the largest share of total imports. Cambodia and Myanmar continued to dominate this segment, contributing 24% and 22% of import volumes, respectively.
Husked rice imports rise as India regains market share
EU imports of husked rice increased 5% y-o-y to 404,000 t. India emerged as the largest supplier with a 30% market share, followed by Pakistan at 19%. The report indicates that India has started regaining market share after losing ground in recent years, supported by improving trade conditions and a trade agreement concluded earlier this year.
Meanwhile, paddy rice imports rose sharply by 52% to 11,600 t, with Guyana accounting for approximately 95% of total imports in this category.
EU rice exports soften
EU rice exports to third countries also weakened during the period. As of 28 June, outbound shipments stood at 240,000 t, down 5% y-o-y. However, exports of husked rice bucked the trend, increasing 11% to exceed 23,000 t, with Turkiye accounting for 59% of export volumes.
Global export prices strengthen
During June, export quotations across major rice-exporting countries moved higher. Thailand’s 25% parboiled rice increased from $472/t to $483/t, while Thai 5% white rice rose from $462/t to $472/t. Pakistan’s 5% rice advanced from $388/t to $412/t, Vietnam’s 5% rice increased from $409/t to $412/t, and India’s 5% rice strengthened from $345/t to $354/t during the same period.
Outlook
The latest trade data suggests that EU’s rice imports remain below last year’s levels despite stable demand for white rice and improving purchases of husked rice. Going forward, import trends will likely depend on consumer demand, supplier competitiveness and trade policy developments. India’s improving share in the husked rice segment could support its presence in the EU market, while the sharp decline in broken rice imports indicates changing sourcing patterns within the bloc.
Leave a Reply