Rice is grown as a major staple crop in 13 countries of South America. The crop is cultivated in the wet soils common in the lowlands of the region. The lowland rice expansion in the vast wetlands of Brazil (with a potential of 24 million ha), the Andean countries (Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela) and the River Plate Basin (Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay) would greatly influence the regional production of rice in the future.

Grown as a staple food crop in South America, the region’s per capita annual consumption increased from around 9 kg of milled rice in 1924-28 to around 30 kg in 2008-10. The tropical countries of the region account for the majority of demand. Rice consumption is income elastic in the region, as consumers tend to increase consumption as their incomes rise. 37% of the total rice area provides around 60% of the regional production due to irrigation availability. The average yield in the region varies between 3.9t/ha-5t/ha. The region is also a net exporter, with a surplus production of approximately 300,000 tons per year.

Rice is cultivated as the major staple crop and has economic importance in the region. Compared to the other rice-growing regions in the world, rice cultivation on larger farms in tropical South America is predominantly mechanized. Direct seeding and purchased inputs are used for cultivation across the region. Uruguay has gained the third-highest rice productivity in the world—an average of 8 tons per hectare of dry paddy rice in the last five years. Countries like Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay have increased their trade relationship with key African countries. The recent fall in rice trading prices, credit crunch, and high price inventory are putting a pressure on the South American rice trade market.

The South American rice crop market report covers the following information –

• Crop production
• South American consumption
• South American trade (export-import) scenario and statistics
• Major enterprises and traders operating in the market
• Price trend and seasonality of the crop
• Future outlook of the crop market

Stakeholders who would benefit -

• Crop growers
• Enterprises providing agricultural inputs
• Traders and companies operating in the segment
• Crop processing companies
• Crop importers and exporters
• Investors/research institutions interested in the crop market