Rice · importers
Indonesia is the fourth largest cereal importer among 96 ranked markets, at $6.8B for 2024. The useful question is who inside that number buys rice.
| Market | HS 10 imports |
|---|---|
| China | $14.8B |
| Mexico | $8.0B |
| Egypt | $6.8B |
| Japan | $6.7B |
| Vietnam | $5.5B |
Figures are for the whole of HS chapter 10 (cereals); rice is only part of it. Source: UN Comtrade, as reported by national authorities; latest available year per market.
Indonesia reported $6.8B of chapter 10 imports in 2024 and is ranked 4, with Egypt directly above at the same rounded $6.8B and Japan directly below at $6.7B. Three markets are packed into a narrow band, so the exact order matters less than the fact that all three are large and active. Indonesia holds 4.6% of the ranked world total for the chapter.
Seen from inside the economy, cereals are 2.9% of $235.1B in total imports and the eighth largest import chapter. Fuels at $40.7B, machinery at $34.0B and electrical equipment at $27.2B are far larger, but cereals still outrank many industrial lines such as plastics at $10.8B and iron and steel at $10.7B.
The country is in Asia, and its biggest all-goods sources are China at $73.8B, Singapore at $21.5B, Japan, USA and Malaysia. Those are totals across all products, and Singapore’s presence in particular suggests a trading hub role, so do not assume they are grain origins.
For a seller outside the region, the lesson is to work out how the buyer normally sources and whether a trader or intermediary sits between you and the end user. Reported import values can be attributed to the country of consignment, which may differ from the country of origin.
Chapter 10 is the whole cereals group, not rice alone, so $6.8B overstates any rice-only estimate. Rankings come from reporter declarations for the latest year available per market, and re-exports or reporting gaps can shift positions. Use the figure to prioritise, and use shipment data to measure.
Ask the destination customs authority for the current import licence and inspection requirements, since these can change and may depend on who is allowed to import. Check quarantine documents, packing and marking rules, the payment terms buyers expect, and the Incoterm and discharge port you will name.
To see named importers, filter customs shipment records to the rice heading. Each record gives the consignee, the HS code, the quantity and the declared value. The free marketplace here helps reach traders who publish demand directly.
Indonesia is 4th of 96 markets in 2024 with $6.8B of chapter 10 imports, 4.6% of the ranked total. Egypt is just above it and Japan just below at $6.7B.
Cereals are 2.9% of $235.1B in total imports and rank 8th among import chapters. They are well below fuels and machinery but ahead of plastics and iron and steel.
No. The figure covers the whole cereals chapter, with rice as one part. Use customs shipment records for the rice heading if you need a rice-specific view.
Confirm current licensing and who may import, plant-health and packaging rules, payment terms, Incoterm and discharge port with the destination customs authority. Do not rely on older terms or another market's practice.
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