Rice is one of the most widely consumed grains in the world. As the most populous country in the world, China also consumes more rice than any other country, with about *** million metric tons consumed in 2024/2025. Following China, India is ranked second with *** million metric tons of rice consumed in the same period. Rice production Rice requires very specific conditions in order to flourish. It must be grown in a field flooded with several inches of water, known as a paddy field. Unsurprisingly, China and India also top the list as the biggest producers of rice worldwide. Rice has such a neutral flavor that it can be integrated into almost any kind of dish, paired with virtually any flavor. In China, rice is often steamed and served alongside stir-fried meat and vegetables. Rice varieties Though there are dozens of varieties of rice grown and consumed across globe, the three most prominent types of rice are indica, japonica, and aromatic. The price index of all rice, however, has increased by over ** points since 2016.

Global consumption of rice has seen a slight increase over the last several years. In the 2023/24 crop year, about 523.8 million metric tons of rice were consumed worldwide, up from 437.18 million metric tons in the 2008/2009 crop year. Rice cultivation Rice requires specific growing conditions to be successfully cultivated. It must be grown in a flooded field in several inches of water. Once the unprocessed rice is harvested, it is known as paddy rice. In 2021, China produced about 213 million metric tons of paddy rice, making that country the top producer of paddy rice worldwide. India had the largest harvest area of rice in the 2022/23 crop year, at 47.8 million hectares, while China harvested 29.5 million hectares of rice in that year. Rice trade worldwide In addition to having the largest harvest area of rice, India also was the top exporter of rice in the 2023/2024 marketing year. During that time period, India exported 16.5 million metric tons of rice. Despite being the top producer of rice worldwide, China’s consumption of rice cannot be satisfied by domestic production. China is also the second top importer of rice of any country in the world, at 2.8 million metric tons of rice.

Rice is one of the most popular grains in the United States, with Americans consuming around 4.9 million metric tons of rice in the 2023/2024 trade year. The consumption volume of rice in the United States has remained more or less stable between 2018 and 2022, with a small peak in consumption in 2020/2021. Leading consumers of rice A high share of the world’s rice consumption is concentrated between a few countries, namely China and India. China alone consumed around 150 million metric tons of rice in 2023/24, while India consumed about 118 million metric tons in that time period. To put this figure in perspective, the global consumption volume of rice in 2023/24 amounted to about 522 million metric tons; about a half of this volume was attributed to China and India. Rice milk and dairy alternatives Rice milk is one of the many ways to consume rice. Rice milk is produced using milled rice and water and is the least allergenic of all the dairy alternatives. However, it has a relatively small market value compared to more popular kinds of dairy milk alternatives such as almond milk and soy milk worldwide.

In the 2023/24 marketing year, the Philippines consumed about **** million metric tons of rice, indicating an increase from the previous year. The Philippines is one of the largest rice consuming countries in the world.

In 2017, a survey about snacking trends among British individuals showed that ** percent of respondents stated that they had started to eat more fruit, and vegetables (** percent). The 2017 survey revealed as well, that ** percent of those interviewed reported eating more nut-based snacks and ** percent more rice cakes. WHO guidelinesThe World Health Organization (WHO), recommends consumption of around 400 grams of fruits and vegetables per day. Furthermore, the organization stated that their lack in a daily diet caused approximately three percent of deaths worldwide. Based on its recommendations, the National Health Service (NHS) launched the “5 A Day” campaign to promote healthy eating habits among the UK population. The market value of the health and wellness market in Europe was valued at approximately *** billion U.S. dollars in 2017, and forecast to further increase in the coming years all around the world. Awareness and motivationsDuring a survey conducted in the UK in 2016, around ** percent of respondents stated that their main motivation behind a healthy diet was to help towards better health and general well-being. Moreover, another study revealed that a larger share of females than males felt that they possess sufficient knowledge to pass on healthy eating advice to their offspring.