Indonesia Becomes the World's Second Largest Rice Importer in 2023

According to data from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Indonesia's milled rice imports in 2023 reached 3.5 million metric tons.

This figure makes Indonesia the second largest rice importer in the world, one rank below the Philippines.

Below is a complete list of the top 10 countries with the largest global rice import volumes in 2023, according to the USDA:

1. Philippines: 3.9 million metric tons
2. Indonesia: 3.5 million metric tons
3. China: 2.6 million metric tons
4. European Union: 2.25 million metric tons
5. Nigeria: 2 million metric tons
6. Iraq: 1.85 million metric tons
7. Vietnam: 1.8 million metric tons
8. Saudi Arabia: 1.5 million metric tons
9. United States: 1.36 million metric tons
10. Malaysia: 1.35 million metric tons

Indonesia's rice imports in 2024 are expected to increase further, due to an additional import quota of 1.6 million tons, added to the initial quota of 2 million tons.

Therefore, Indonesia has the potential to import 3.6 million tons of rice this year.

"The additional allocation (of rice imports) of 1.6 million tons is currently undergoing changes in the commodity balance, in order to submit an application for import approval," said Arif Sulistiyo, Director of Imports at the Ministry of Trade, in a Regional Inflation Control Coordination Meeting on the Ministry of Home Affairs' YouTube channel, Monday (26/2/2024).

(See also: 10 Largest Rice Producing Countries in 2023, Including Indonesia)