What Are Rice Traders?
Rice traders are businesses or individuals who buy, sell, and distribute rice in bulk across domestic and international markets. They operate between farmers, millers, exporters, importers, and institutional buyers, helping move rice from surplus regions to demand-driven markets.
In simple terms, rice trading is about sourcing rice in bulk from producing regions and supplying it to buyers who need consistent volumes. Rice traders focus on quality specifications, pricing, logistics, and delivery timelines rather than retail branding.
Rice is the third most widely cultivated agricultural crop in the world, following sugarcane and maize. Private importers and governments regularly buy rice in bulk to supply food industries or maintain their food reserves for the population. It is the most crucial food across the globe, in which African countries are the major importers of non-basmati white rice, and Gulf & European countries are importers of basmati rice.
Rice is grown on over 165 million hectares globally, with India leading in cultivation (48 million hectares) and producing 137 MMT of paddy rice. In 2023-24, global production reached 780 MMT, led by China. India exported 18-22 MMT, making it the top rice exporter, followed by Thailand and Vietnam.
Globally, rice is produced over 165 million hectares, with India leading the rice-cultivated area at 48 million hectares. India's rice production was at 137 million metric tons (Paddy Rice), with China being the leader, from the overall global rice production at 780 million metric tons (2023-24).
Rice trading led to exports of 18-22 MMT from India, cementing its place as the straightforward leader, with Thailand and Vietnam placed at the distant second and third positions, respectively.
The volume of international rice trade has almost quadrupled, from 7.5 million tonnes per year in the 1960s to an average of 28.5 million tonnes in 2000-2009. In 2024, the state of the current global rice trading stands at around 40 million tonnes.
India is the world's largest rice exporter, accounting for 40-41% of the total rice export globally in 2024-25, valued at $11.8B (22MMT). Thailand comes second on the list of top rice exporters in 2024-25, contributing 16-19% ($6.4B) of global exports, a shipment volume of 9-10MMT.
Vietnam ranks third, with its rice export market share of 10-11% (2024-25).
Pakistan and the United States rank fourth and fifth, with their market share of 9-11% and 6% globally.
The top five rice exporters account for 80% of rice trade in the world. Of these top rice exporters, four (Thailand, India, Vietnam, and Pakistan) are from Asia.
Unlike the concentrated export market, rice imports are widely fragmented.
The top rice-importing countries account for 30% of global trade, with the top ten under 50%. Many, like China and the Philippines, are based in Asia (2024).
In recent years, Vietnam has emerged as the strongest competitor to Thailand's Hom Mali jasmine rice, capturing nearly 40% of the market. Yet, its jasmine rice continues to fetch a premium price globally.
Besides selecting the major rice grade, the buyer can input other quality specifications such as rice length, rice whiteness, rice moisture, rice mix percentage (%), color of rice, etc.
At Tradologies, we offer buyers various types of rice to trade on a global scale. From top rice suppliers, genuine buyers can select their choice of rice and start negotiating with sellers directly on our B2B agro trade digital platform. The following are the types of rice available:
Basmati Rice :- Sugandha Basmati Rice, Pusa Basmati Rice, Sharbati Basmati Rice, Traditional Basmati Rice, etc.
Non-Basmati Rice :- Jasmine Rice, Vietnamese Rice, Round Grain Rice, Parboiled Rice, etc.
Daawat - The Finest Rice :- Known for consistent grain quality and export-ready basmati varieties.
Often preferred by buyers who want reliability across repeated shipments.
Shree Lal Mahal Rice :- A long-established name in basmati exports, especially for premium and traditional grades. Trusted for steady specs and international market experience.
Fortune :- Popular for its wide availability and standardized quality. Frequently sourced for large-volume requirements where consistency matters more than niche positioning.
Kohinoor Traditional :- Well-recognised for classic basmati profiles and aroma-driven varieties. Commonly supplied to Middle Eastern and European markets.
Lal Qila :- Associated with traditional basmati segments and strong domestic-to-export presence. Known among buyers for balanced quality and pricing.
Patanjali Basmati Rice :- Backed by a strong domestic brand footprint and growing export reach. Often considered for value-focused basmati sourcing.
With global trade pivoting to the digital form of communication between a seller and a buyer, Tradologie, a digital B2B Agro trading platform, stands out in the market. Tradologies.com offers a verified list of more than 1 Million+ buyers and sellers registered across the globe, enabling traders to communicate directly, eliminating the unnecessary clutter from the trading procedure.
With 1 Million+ verified buyers and sellers, Tradologie keeps bulk rice trade transparent, secure, and efficient. Unlike other platforms, we don't sell enquiries—we enable real, direct trade built on trust and reliability.
Indian rice traders operate at the centre of the global rice movement. India has remained the world's largest rice exporter, shipping around 18–22 million metric tonnes annually across basmati and non-basmati segments.
With sourcing spread across multiple growing regions, rice traders in India are able to serve Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and other import-dependent markets simultaneously, adjusting volumes as demand shifts.
Global rice trade currently moves around 40-42 million metric tonnes per year, with India accounting for the largest share.
Africa absorbs a significant portion of traded volumes, mainly non-basmati white rice. The Middle East and Europe remain steady buyers of basmati rice, while Southeast Asia alternates between exporter and importer roles depending on harvest cycles.
Rice prices in bulk don't stay fixed for long. They shift with quality, origin, shipment terms, and whatever the market is doing at that point in time. Most deals are discussed per metric ton, usually closer to shipment, not weeks in advance.
These are reference numbers, nothing more. Final prices depend on grade, broken percentage, moisture, order size, packaging, destination, freight situation, and market conditions at the time the deal is actually closed.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Packaging - Bag Sizes | 1kg, 5kg, 10kg, 25kg, 50kg |
| Packaging - Bag Types | PP, Plastic, Jute, Gunny, Non-Woven |
| Preferred Export Packaging | 25kg and 50kg bags |
| Shelf Life | 12-24 months under dry storage |
| Common Incoterms | FOB, CIF |
| Export Documentation | Certificate of Origin (CO), Phytosanitary Certificate, Inspection Report |
You can import rice in bulk by registering as a buyer for free, posting your requirement, getting real-time quotations from verified bulk rice suppliers, negotiating live, and finalizing the deal with mandatory third-party inspection before shipment.
You can buy rice in bulk in multiple varieties, including Basmati, Non-Basmati Long Grain, Medium Grain, Short Grain, Parboiled (Sella), White Rice, Brown Rice, Jasmine Rice, and Glutinous Rice.
Top rice-exporting countries include India, Thailand, Vietnam, Pakistan, Myanmar, and Cambodia. These origins dominate bulk rice trade globally.
Basmati Rice: aromatic, long-grain, high elongation after cooking.
Non-Basmati Rice: medium/short grain varieties used for daily consumption, industry use, and regional cuisines
Rice is classified by:
Buyers evaluate:
Rice is exported in 5kg, 10kg, 20kg, 25kg, and 50kg bags (PP woven, BOPP printed, jute, non-woven). Private labeling is available when buyers import rice in bulk.
Tradologie.com helps buyers import rice in bulk by offering real-time prices, transparent live negotiation, verified bulk rice exporters, and end-to-end trade facilitation with LC/TT payments and mandatory third-party inspection.
Tradologie offers a fully digital procurement journey for verified buyers. Once registered and approved through our KYC process, you can raise bulk rice inquiries by selecting rice type, its specifications, and total volume. Verified exporters will respond to your inquiry with their competitive quotes, and negotiations between a buyer and seller happen online on our SaaS based platform.
From premium Basmati rice variants like Pusa and Sugandha to Non-Basmati types like Parboiled, Jasmine, and Vietnamese rice, Tradologie supports a wide range of rice categories for global trade. You can also filter options based on grain length, moisture, whiteness, and other parameters.
Any rice exporter with valid documents such as IEC code, APEDA license, FSSAI certificate, GST, PAN, and a current bank account can register. Post-verification and subscription, exporters gain access to genuine global buyer inquiries for bulk orders.
Importers benefit from competitive pricing, multiple supplier options, and customisable quality specifications. Our SaaS based digital process ensures faster negotiation cycles, end-to-end transparency, and it protects against fraudulent trade practices.
Yes. Tradologie lists premium rice brands like Daawat, Lal Qila, Kohinoor, Shree Lal Mahal, and more, available for bulk purchase through verified exporters. These are often sourced directly from reputed mills and manufacturers.
Major importers include African nations (non-basmati rice), and Gulf & European countries (basmati rice). Tradologie serves buyers across all these regions by offering access to verified Indian rice exporters and facilitating direct trade based on region-specific preferences.
India, Thailand, Vietnam, Pakistan, and the U.S. dominate global rice exports. Tradologie features both Indian and global exporters, offering a transparent platform to trade with verified international buyers.
Most bulk deals start with a simple requirement — rice type, grade, quantity, and destination. Once that’s clear, traders negotiate price and shipment terms directly with exporters or millers and move ahead with container-level orders.
In practical terms, it’s usually one full container. Smaller quantities are possible, but most exporters prefer containerised shipments for pricing and logistics efficiency.
Yes, that happens often. Traders regularly mix basmati and non-basmati rice depending on market demand, as long as packaging and documentation are aligned.
There’s no fixed price. Rates depend on variety, quality specs, origin, freight, and timing. Most traders finalise prices closer to shipment rather than locking them weeks in advance.
Africa remains the biggest volume market, especially for non-basmati rice. Basmati demand stays strong in the Middle East and Europe, while Southeast Asia moves in and out depending on harvest conditions.
Both exist. Some traders work spot-to-spot, while others prefer repeat supply arrangements once quality and reliability are proven.