U.S. retail price of white rice 1995-2021

In 2020, the retail price of long-grain, uncooked white rice stood at 82 U.S. cents per pound. In 2008, rice prices rose to record highs, from 55 to 81 U.S. cents, as global trade restrictions were put in place, causing many large importers to panic buy rice.

U.S. rice industry

In the United States, about 2.5 million acres of rice were planted and harvested in 2021. The top rice-producing states that year were Arkansas, California, Louisiana, among others. Arkansas was the leading state by far, producing over 91 million cwt (centrum weight) of rice in 2021.

Leading rice producers worldwide

Within the 2019/2020 period, India and China were the top rice-producing countries by far, based on the area harvested. India harvested a milled rice area of approximately 44 and a half million hectares, while China’s area amounted to some 31 million hectares. In terms of production, however, China produced a higher volume of milled rice than India within the same crop year: China produced close to 147 million metric tons of rice, while India’s figures reached an estimated 119 million tons.