North America Rice Market Analysis
The North America Rice Market size is estimated at USD 4.80 billion in 2025, and is expected to reach USD 7.88 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 10.40% during the forecast period (2025-2030).
The North American rice market has experienced significant growth due to increasing demand for American rice in emerging and developing nations. North America maintains its position as an export-oriented rice producer, with the United States being the primary producer in the region. Rice cultivation in the United States is concentrated in four main regions: Arkansas Grand Prairie, Mississippi Delta (encompassing parts of Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri, and Louisiana), Gulf Coast (Texas and Southwest Louisiana), and Sacramento Valley of California. These regions collectively represent nearly all rice production in the country. Each region specializes in specific grain lengths - long, medium, or short. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), in 2023, long-grain rice constitutes 75% of United States rice production, medium-grain accounts for 24%, and short-grain represents 1%.
Mexico ranks as the second-largest rice producer in North America, with cultivation spread across 17 states. The primary producing states - Sinaloa, Campeche, and Veracruz - each contribute approximately 20% of Mexico's total rice production. Additional rice production occurs in Central America and Haiti, though at smaller scales. Mexico and Canada rely heavily on imports to meet their domestic consumption needs. The United States has seen an increase in rice imports, primarily driven by demand for aromatic varieties such as jasmine and basmati from Thailand and India, which have limited domestic production. These distinct patterns in production, consumption, imports, and exports are projected to continue shaping the market throughout the forecast period.
North America Rice Market Trends
Increasing Domestic Consumption
As a cereal grain, rice is the most widely consumed staple food for most of the population in North American countries. Rice is cultivated in most of the countries of the region with countries such as the United States, and Mexico holding a significant share. The expansion of the food service and restaurant industry in the region has increased rice consumption. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Mexico's domestic consumption of milled rice reached 980 thousand metric tons in 2023, up from 975 thousand metric tons in 2022. The Mexican Rice Council reported a per capita rice consumption of 6.7 kg in 2023. This upward trend is anticipated to continue, supporting market growth during the forecast period. USDA studies indicate that farmers' increased planting intentions are projected to boost milled rice production in 2024 in response to rising domestic demand.
Canada, with no domestic rice production, depends entirely on imports. According to the ITC Trade Map, Canadian rice imports increased from 531,055 metric tons in 2022 to 664,676 metric tons in 2023. This surge reflects a growing consumer preference for rice in the country. The United States and Thailand dominate Canada's rice supply, accounting for 61.6% of rice imports in 2023. This import diversity provides Canadian consumers access to various rice types, meeting different culinary needs. The United States, despite its substantial domestic production, imported rice worth USD 1.4 billion in 2023, making it the fourth-largest rice importer globally. The expansion of the fast-food industry, driven by evolving consumer lifestyles and food preferences, represents a major rice consumption segment in the region. This trend is projected to support market growth throughout the forecast period.
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Rising Export is Driving the Market
Rice and other grains form a substantial portion of global food consumption, with demand increasing annually. The demand for rice has expanded across various countries due to growing health consciousness and higher disposable incomes.
The United States, Canada, and Mexico contribute significantly to the global rice trade, with the United States being the dominant exporter. According to ITC Trade Map data, United States rice exports increased from 2.5 million metric tons in 2022 to 2.7 million metric tons in 2023. The country primarily exports long-grain and medium-grain rice to markets including Mexico, Japan, Haiti, Canada, and South Korea. Mexico received 529.04 thousand metric tons, representing 20% of United States rice exports in 2023. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), United States rice is projected to maintain its market dominance in Mexico's rough rice segment due to competitive pricing and supply reliability.
Canada, though not a major rice producer due to climate constraints, functions as a re-export hub, importing rice mainly from the United States and distributing it to the European Union, Caribbean, and Asian markets. Canadian rice exports increased from 20.9 thousand metric tons in 2022 to 24.4 thousand metric tons in 2023 as per the ITC Trade Map data. Mexico is developing its rice production and export capabilities, focusing on Central and South American markets, particularly Cuba. The expansion of rice exports from North American countries supports the overall market growth. The region's rice exports are anticipated to increase due to rising international demand, which will contribute to market growth during the forecast period.
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North America Rice Market News
- January 2024: In Mexico, the Price Guarantee Program for Basic Food Products established rice purchase prices of USD 510 for producers supplying up to 80 metric tons and USD 475 for producers supplying up to 300 metric tons. These guaranteed prices for small and medium rice producers exceeded the average domestic price by 49% and 39%, respectively.
- May 2023: Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station in the United States released a new high-yielding medium-grain Clearfield rice cultivar. The new rice variety is called CLM05, and it averaged 192 bushels per acre over two years in statewide trials.
- October 2022: The Mexican government implemented a temporary exemption on import taxes for South American rice to address food price inflation, scarcity, and low domestic rice production.
North America Rice Industry Segmentation
Rice is a staple food and primary source of carbohydrates, consumed with various accompaniments as the foundation of meals. It is essential for food security and integral to cultural cuisines. The North American rice market is segmented by geography (United States, Canada, and Mexico). The report analyzes production volume, consumption (volume and value), imports (volume and value), exports (volume and value), and price trends for these segments. The market size and forecasts are presented in volume (Thousand Metric Tons) and value (USD) across all segments.
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Geography
| United States | Production Analysis (Volume) |
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| Canada | Production Analysis (Volume) |
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| Mexico | Production Analysis (Volume) |
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North America Rice Market Research FAQs
How big is the North America Rice Market?
The North America Rice Market size is expected to reach USD 4.80 billion in 2025 and grow at a CAGR of 10.40% to reach USD 7.88 billion by 2030.
What is the current North America Rice Market size?
In 2025, the North America Rice Market size is expected to reach USD 4.80 billion.
What years does this North America Rice Market cover, and what was the market size in 2024?
In 2024, the North America Rice Market size was estimated at USD 4.30 billion. The report covers the North America Rice Market historical market size for years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. The report also forecasts the North America Rice Market size for years: 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030.
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North America Rice Industry Report
Statistics for the 2025 North America Rice market share, size and revenue growth rate, created by Mordor Intelligence™ Industry Reports. North America Rice analysis includes a market forecast outlook for 2025 to 2030 and historical overview. Get a sample of this industry analysis as a free report PDF download.
