Indian rice export prices rose to a near 10-month high this week, driven by tight paddy supplies and concerns over the new-season crop after patchy monsoon rainfall, with adverse weather keeping traders on edge in major Asian hubs, according to Reuters.
Supply-side pressures
India’s 5% broken parboiled variety was quoted at $356-$361 per ton, up from last week’s $352-$357, Reuters reported. Indian 5% broken white rice was priced at $355 to $360 per ton. “Paddy prices have risen as market supplies remain tight. Exporters are raising their offers to reflect higher procurement costs,” a Kolkata-based trader said. The price increase was attributed to tight paddy supplies and worries over the new-season crop after patchy monsoon rains.
Thailand’s 5% broken rice was quoted at $450 to $460 per ton, slightly higher from $445-$450 last week. A Bangkok-based trader said, “The price increase was driven by domestic factors.” The trader added that only regular customers were making purchases, with no large lots coming in yet, and spot or occasional buyers are purchasing less. There were also concerns about upcoming crop yields. Another trader said demand has been quiet and the supply situation would be more clear next month.
In Bangladesh, rice prices have risen over the past week, especially for fine varieties, amid concerns over tightening supplies after successive weather-related shocks. Traders cited higher paddy prices and recent flood damage, which affected crops across at least 28,610 hectares in 12 districts, including paddy fields and rice seedbeds. Earlier this year, heavy pre-monsoon rains and upstream inflows damaged the country’s summer rice crop in the northeastern wetlands, leaving it with an estimated rice production shortfall of more than 200,000 metric tons.
Demand-side and export trends
Meanwhile, in Vietnam, 5% broken rice was offered at $430 on Thursday, down from a range of $445-$450 last week. “Supplies are building up from the ongoing summer-autumn harvest,” a trader based in Ho Chi Minh City said, noting that around one-third of the summer-autumn crop had been harvested. The Philippines has tightened oversight of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances for Vietnamese rice shipments, traders in Hanoi said. Vietnam exported 274,749 tons of rice in the first half of July, raising total shipments for the year through July 15 to 5.3 million tons.
Price comparison table
| Grade (5% broken) | Last week price (USD/ton) | This week price (USD/ton) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| India parboiled | $352–$357 | $356–$361 | Up $4/ton |
| India white | N/A | $355–$360 | – |
| Thailand white | $445–$450 | $450–$460 | Up $5–$10/ton |
| Vietnam white | $445–$450 | $430 | Down $15–$20/ton |
Outlook
Traders across the region are closely watching weather patterns and harvest progress. In India, the monsoon remains patchy, keeping supply concerns alive. Thailand awaits clarity on crop yields next month. Bangladesh faces flood-related losses that could tighten supply further. Vietnam's summer-autumn harvest is building stocks, but tighter Philippine oversight may slow export momentum. The key data releases to watch include weekly Thai and Indian price assessments, Vietnam's harvest progress reports, and Bangladesh flood damage assessments.
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