Rice is the staple food of more than half of the world’s population, with more than 700 million tons produced annually (equivalent to 470 million tons of milled rice). Although most rice is consumed in the countries where it is produced, a growing demand in some areas is feeding the international rice trade.
Most of the rice is grown and consumed in Asia, from Pakistan in the west to Japan in the east. ‘Rice-producing Asia’ – defined as Asia excluding Mongolia and the countries of Central Asia – accounts for roughly 90% of world rice production. But because it is a net exporter of rice to the rest of the world, its current share in global rice consumption is slightly less (87%).