Spain Rice Market Analysis
The Spain Rice Market size is estimated at USD 7.98 million in 2025, and is expected to reach USD 11.46 million by 2030, at a CAGR of 7.49% during the forecast period (2025-2030).
Spain holds the position of Europe's second-largest rice producer, contributing 25-30% of the continent's total production. The country's primary rice-growing regions include Andalucía, Extremadura, Cataluña, Comunidad Valencia, Aragón, and Navarra. Spain cultivates three main rice varieties including, Bahía, Senia, and Bomba, with Bomba considered the premium variety. Despite its significant production capacity, Spain's rice market increasingly relies on imports due to a steady decline in domestic production.
Rice cultivation occurs in six of Spain's 17 administrative regions. The growing season extends from April to October, with peak harvest in September. Spanish rice farmers primarily use flood irrigation techniques from May to October. Traditional rice-growing areas, including Delta del Ebro, Marismas del Guadalquivir, and Valencia, employ a monoculture system. Despite rice being highly sensitive to salt, the use of freshwater flood irrigation helps reduce soil salinity levels. Consequently, rice cultivation is predominantly carried out in non-saline fields.
The preferred type in Spain is short-grain rice, which has a long tradition in the Mediterranean coastal regions. Long-grain varieties are mainly cultivated in rice areas located in southern Spain (Extremadura and Marismas del Guadalquivir). In contrast, short-medium-grain rice is cultivated in the other four areas in northeastern Spain.
Myanmar, Pakistan, Thailand, Myanmar, and Italy are major rice exporters from Spain. Spanish rice imports primarily consist of Indica rice, while the country is self-sufficient in Japonica rice production. Spain contributes 15% of Japonica rice exports within the European Union, compared to Italy's 70% contribution. The declining domestic rice production and increasing imports, coupled with high demand for rice in Spain, are anticipated to drive market growth in the coming years.
Spain Rice Market Trends
Increasing Rice Consumption in the Country
Rice consumption in Spain has shown a steady trend over the past five years. Rice maintains its position as a staple food in Spain, comparable to pasta, potatoes, and bread. Its popularity is attributed to its nutritional value and quick cooking time. The diverse preferences for different rice types among Spanish consumers are anticipated to drive market growth.
Spanish consumers generally prefer small, round rice grains due to their shorter cooking time. Despite this preference, domestic rice production and harvested area have decreased over the years. Spain heavily relies on imports to meet its rice consumption needs, as domestic production is insufficient to satisfy the country's demand. Interestingly, Spain also serves as a major rice exporter to several European countries.
In a global context, Spain ranks 90th out of 154 countries in terms of rice consumption per capita. Regional consumption patterns vary, with Valencia and the Balearic Islands showing the highest rice consumption, while Castile La Mancha, Galicia, and Navarre demonstrate the lowest demand. Regarding distribution channels, 75% of rice purchases occur in supermarkets, followed by hypermarkets (18%), specialized stores (2%), and other retail outlets (4%).
According to ITC Trademap, rice imports have shown an upward trend, increasing from 287,957 metric tons in 2021 to 363,887 metric tons by 2023. This growing demand for various rice varieties in Spain is anticipated to drive market growth during the forecast period.
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Strong Rice Supply From Myanmar
Spain, despite being Europe's second-largest rice producer, cannot meet domestic demand through local production alone. In 2022, some Spanish regions experienced reduced rice yields due to drought conditions, characterized by high temperatures and low rainfall. The Ministry of Ecological Transition reported that by early August 2022, Spain's hydrographic reserve was at 39%, nearly 10% lower than previous year. Consequently, Spain relies on imports to fulfill its rice requirements. Major rice suppliers to Spain include Myanmar, Argentina, Guyana, Pakistan, and Italy. While Spain actively imports rice, it also exports within Europe.
In 2022, Spain ranked as the world's 39th largest rice importer, with imports valued at USD 276.6 million. Myanmar's rice exports to Spain increased from USD 23,525 in 2021 to USD 46,008 in 2023. According to the ITC Trademap, Spain imported 363,887 tons of rice globally in 2023. Myanmar emerged as the leading rice exporter to Spain with an export volume of 86,362 metric tons in 2023. Spain primarily imports Indica rice, while maintaining self-sufficiency in Japonica rice production. Spain contributes 15% of Japonica rice exports to the EU, compared to Italy's 70%. Recent years have seen a shift in Spain's rice import structure, with an increase in milled rice imports and a decrease in husked rice (non-Basmati) imports.
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Spain Rice Market News
- January 2023: Spain's new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Strategic Plan 2023-2027 introduced multiple support schemes for rice farming, including direct payments to farmers and rural development program funding. The CAP remains essential to Spain's agricultural support framework and helps stabilize rice farmers' income.
- March 2023: Spain initiated a national research program to advance sustainable irrigation methods in rice cultivation, focusing on the Ebro Delta and Valencia regions. The program, scheduled to continue until 2025, aims to enhance water management through technological solutions.
Spain Rice Industry Segmentation
Rice is the seed of grass species. It is the major staple food consumed by half of the global population. It is the agricultural commodity with the highest worldwide production after sugarcane and maize. Spain's rice market is analyzed in terms of production analysis (volume), consumption analysis (value and volume), import analysis (value and volume), export analysis (value and volume), and price trends in the country. The report offers market estimation and forecasts in value (USD million) and Volume (metric ton) for the above-mentioned segments.
| Production Analysis | Consumption Analysis and Market Value |
| Import Market Analysis (Volume and Value) | |
| Export Market Analysis (Volume and Value) | |
| Price Trend Analysis |
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Spain Rice Market Research FAQs
How big is the Spain Rice Market?
The Spain Rice Market size is expected to reach USD 7.98 million in 2025 and grow at a CAGR of 7.49% to reach USD 11.46 million by 2030.
What is the current Spain Rice Market size?
In 2025, the Spain Rice Market size is expected to reach USD 7.98 million.
What years does this Spain Rice Market cover, and what was the market size in 2024?
In 2024, the Spain Rice Market size was estimated at USD 7.38 million. The report covers the Spain Rice Market historical market size for years: 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. The report also forecasts the Spain Rice Market size for years: 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030.
