Agriculture
Visualizing the World’s Biggest Rice Producers
Visualizing The World’s Biggest Rice Producers
It’s hard to overstate the importance of rice to the world.
As a staple food, over half of the global population depends on the crop as a major part of their diet. In fact, rice is considered a vital part of nutrition in much of Asia, Latin America, Africa, and the Caribbean, and is estimated to provide more than one-fifth of the calories consumed worldwide by humans.
This graphic highlights the world’s 10 biggest rice-producing countries, using 2019 production data from the UN’s FAOSTAT and the USDA.
Which Countries Produce the Most Rice?
With 756 million tonnes produced globally in 2019, rice is the world’s third-most produced agricultural crop behind sugarcane and corn (maize), which both have a wide variety of non-consumption uses.
Just 10 countries are responsible for a bulk of global rice production:
| Country | Tonnes Rice Produced (2019) | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| China | 211.4M | 28.0% |
| India | 177.6M | 23.5% |
| Indonesia | 54.6M | 7.2% |
| Bangladesh | 54.6M | 7.2% |
| Vietnam | 43.4M | 5.7% |
| Thailand | 28.3M | 3.7% |
| Myanmar | 26.3M | 3.5% |
| Philippines | 18.8M | 2.5% |
| Pakistan | 11.1M | 1.5% |
| Brazil | 10.4M | 1.4% |
| Others | 119.0M | 15.8% |
| Total | 755.5M | 100.0% |
At the top of the charts are China (#1) and India (#2), which produced 389 million tonnes combined, accounting for more than half of global production.
They’re significantly ahead of #3 and #4 countries Indonesia and Bangladesh, which produced around 54.6 million tonnes each. Almost all of the top producers are located in Asia, with the exception of Brazil (#10).
Feeding A Growing World
With 84% of rice being harvested in just 10 countries, it’s clear that many countries globally must rely on imports to meet domestic demand.
In 2019, India, Thailand, Pakistan, and Vietnam were large net exporters of rice, shipping out nearly $16 billion of rice combined. Other countries including Iran, China, Saudi Arabia, and the Philippines consume above production numbers and rely on imports to meet their needs.
And not everything makes it from plant to table. In developing countries especially, estimates of 8–26% of rice are lost due to postharvest problems and poor infrastructure.
As the global population continues to grow, rice will continue to be a key source of calories around the world—and as our diets change, it’ll be interesting to see how that role shifts in the future.
Agriculture
The Fertilizer Market: 4 Things Investors Need to Know in 2023
What factors are impacting the fertilizer market in 2023? Here are four trends driving global fertilizer demand.
4 Things Investors Need to Know About the Fertilizer Market in 2023
Food security is of crucial importance many reasons—from ensuring both political and social stability, to supporting the health of the global economy.
You may be surprised to learn that fertilizer plays a crucial role in food security by enhancing the quantity and quality of harvests. In short, fertilizers can make food more affordable and accessible.
The above infographic sponsored by Brazil Potash digs into four major trends currently impacting the demand of fertilizer. Let’s break them down here.
1. Feeding 10 Billion People by 2050
The world’s population is increasing rapidly and is expected to reach nearly 10 billion by 2050. This growth is particularly strong in developing countries where food security is already strained.
As the population grows, more crops are needed to support global food systems. Increasing crop production is essential and the fertilizer market is a critical ingredient in improving crop yields.
2. Less Farmland
After around 10,000 to 12,000 years of reshaping land for agriculture, the amount of arable land on earth is declining.
Based on the agricultural expansion predicted to take place between 2010 and 2050, an estimated 593 million hectares of agricultural land—nearly twice the size of India—will be needed.
With little room left to grow, fertilizers will take on an increasingly critical role in boosting crop production.
3. The World Needs More Fertilizer
The global fertilizer market was valued at $163.2 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach $203.5 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 3.9% during period of 2022-2027.
As population growth continues to drive demand for increased crop production, investment in fertilizer production is essential to meet this growing demand.
4. The Global Fertilizer Supply Chain
Supply chain disruptions in the fertilizer market puts global food security at risk.
Farmers’ ability to access a consistent and affordable fertilizer supply directly affects crop yields, production, and food prices.
Increasing the supply of domestically produced fertilizer in countries heavily reliant on imports will support low-cost, sustainable, in-market fertilizer for farmers who need it.
Let’s break down the top five fertilizer-exporting countries based on value, according to Statista.
| Country | Value of Fertilizer Exports, 2021 |
|---|---|
| 🇷🇺 Russia | $12.49B |
| 🇨🇳 China | $11.47B |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | $6.61B |
| 🇲🇦 Morocco | $5.71B |
| 🇺🇸 United States | $4.05B |
On the other hand, here are the top five fertilizer-importing countries, based on value from the same source.
| Country | Value of Fertilizer Imports, 2021 |
|---|---|
| 🇧🇷 Brazil | $15.16B |
| 🇺🇸 United States | $10.29B |
| 🇮🇳 India | $9.12B |
| 🇫🇷 France | $2.8B |
| 🇨🇳 China | $2.77B |
Russia currently dominates the fertilizer market as the largest exporter based on dollar value at approximately $12.49 billion dollars, while Brazil is the largest importer of fertilizer based on an import value of approximately $15.2 billion dollars.
Investing in Brazil
Large agricultural producers that rely heavily on fertilizer imports, such as Brazil, would benefit from a local supply that farmers can easily and affordably access to improve crop production.
Fertilizer company Brazil Potash is engaged in the extraction and processing of local potash ore to increase yields and strengthen crop growth in Brazil.
Interested in learning more? Click here to learn about how you can invest in the fertilizer market with Brazil Potash.
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