Rice Rises to 3-Month Highs
2026-01-21 17:59
By
Felipe Alarcon
1 min. read
Rice futures traded above $10.7 per hundredweight, reaching three-month highs as supplies tightened despite a broadly ample global supply outlook.
In India, export prices firmed after higher paddy costs and ongoing government procurement reduced marketable supplies, lifting FOB offers to their highest levels in months.
In Brazil, Cepea reports that spot liquidity in Rio Grande do Sul remains constrained as producers prioritize export commitments, limiting immediate availability even as opening stocks increase.
These origin-specific constraints matter because global buyers rely on a narrow set of suppliers, meaning small disruptions at the farmgate or port level can quickly lift nearby prices.
By contrast, the broader balance remains comfortable, with the USDA projecting global milled rice trade at around 62.8 Mt in 2025/26 and world production near 541 Mt.