Spain Rice Market Size

Spain Rice Market Analysis

The Spain Rice Market size is estimated at USD 7.47 million in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 8.53 million by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 7.49% during the forecast period (2024-2029).

• Spain is the second-largest producer of rice in Europe, with 25-30% of total European production. The major rice-producing areas in the country are Andalucía, Extremadura, Cataluña, Comunidad Valencia, Aragón, and Navarra. There are three key varieties, Bahía, Senia, and Bomba, with Bomba being the best. Spain's rice market is concentrated around imports due to a continuous decrease in domestic production.
• Rice is cultivated in six of the country's total 17 administrative regions. The crop is grown from April to October, with harvest peaking in September. Rice in Spain is mostly cultivated under flood irrigation conditions from May to October. Rice cultivation in traditional areas (Delta del Ebro, Marismas del Guadalquivir, and Valencia) follows a monoculture system. Although rice is one of the most salt-sensitive crops, cultivation using freshwater flood irrigation allows the lowering of salinity levels. Thus, its cultivation is highly carried out in non-salinized field areas.
• The preferred type in Spain is short-grain rice, which has a long tradition in the Mediterranean coastal regions. Long-grain varieties are mainly cultivated in rice areas located in southern Spain (Extremadura and Marismas del Guadalquivir). In contrast, short-medium-grain rice is cultivated in the other four areas in northeastern Spain.
• Argentina, Pakistan, Thailand, Myanmar, and Italy are some major rice exporters to Spain. Rice imports in Spain mainly consist of Rice Indica. For Japonica, the country is self-sufficient. Spain contributes 15% of exports of Japonica rice in the EU, while Italy contributes 70%. Due to a decrease in rice production and increasing imports to Spain, the high demand for rice in the country is expected to drive the market in the coming year.