Rice is a moderate-volume grain seaborne cargo, with global seaborne trade of approximately 50 to 55 million tonnes per year. The cargo is principally moved within Asia (intra-Asian trade dominates) and from Asian exporters to Africa, the Middle East, and selected European markets. Major exporters include India, Thailand, Vietnam, Pakistan, the United States, and Cambodia; major importers include the Philippines, China, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and various Sub-Saharan African nations. Rice is regulated under both the International Grain Code and the IMSBC Code under the same framework as wheat and maize, though most rice ships in bagged form rather than bulk.
Bulk versus bagged shipment
Unlike wheat and maize, a substantial fraction of rice seaborne trade moves in bagged form rather than bulk. Bagged rice is loaded in sacks of 25 to 50 kilograms onto general-cargo ships or in containers, particularly for retail-quality grades and for Asian and African distribution networks. Bulk rice is shipped on dedicated bulk carriers principally for state-purchase contracts (Iran, Iraq, the Philippines under the National Food Authority contracting framework) and for industrial users (food processors, distillers).
Cargo properties
Rice is supplied in two principal commercial forms:
- Paddy rice (rough rice): unmilled grain with the husk intact. Bulk density approximately 0.55 to 0.6 tonnes per cubic metre. Mostly traded internally; some seaborne movement.
- Milled rice (white rice, brown rice): husk-removed grain. Bulk density approximately 0.78 to 0.83 tonnes per cubic metre, with stowage factor of approximately 1.2 to 1.3 cubic metres per tonne. The dominant seaborne trade form.
The cargo is non-toxic, non-flammable, and not classified as a hazardous chemical cargo. Specific carriage hazards include grain shifting, insect infestation, moisture-driven self-heating, and dust explosion risk during handling.
Major routes
Rice seaborne trade flows include:
- Thailand to Africa and Asia: traditional dominant exporter. Bangkok and Laem Chabang export.
- India to Africa, Middle East, and Asia: the world’s largest rice exporter since approximately 2015. Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, and Kandla export.
- Vietnam to Philippines, Africa, and Indonesia: Saigon export.
- Pakistan to Africa and Middle East: Karachi export.
- United States to Latin America, Caribbean, and Asia: Pacific Northwest, Gulf, and Sacramento Delta export.
- Cambodia and Myanmar to selected Asian and African markets: emerging exporters.
The Philippines is the largest single rice importer globally, with annual imports of 2 to 4 million tonnes depending on domestic harvest and policy.
Carriage requirements
Bulk rice shipments follow the standard Grain Code and IMSBC framework. Specific requirements for rice include:
- Pre-loading moisture certification.
- Insect infestation control through fumigation or pre-loading inspection.
- Hold cleanliness to prevent contamination, particularly important for food-grade rice.
- Container shipment for retail and high-grade product is increasingly common.