SADC: Paddy Rice Market 2025

Paddy Rice Market Size in SADC

In 2021, after four years of growth, there was significant decline in the SADC paddy rice market, when its value decreased by -5.1% to $X. Over the period under review, consumption continues to indicate a pronounced downturn. The level of consumption peaked at $X in 2012; however, from 2013 to 2021, consumption remained at a lower figure.

Paddy Rice Production in SADC

In value terms, paddy rice production dropped to $X in 2021 estimated in export price. Overall, production recorded a abrupt decline. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2020 with an increase of 24% against the previous year. Over the period under review, production hit record highs at $X in 2012; however, from 2013 to 2021, production remained at a lower figure.

The countries with the highest volumes of production in 2021 were Madagascar (X tons), Tanzania (X tons) and Democratic Republic of the Congo (X tons), with a combined 96% share of total production.

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of production, amongst the key producing countries, was attained by Tanzania (with a CAGR of +9.3%), while production for the other leaders experienced mixed trends in the production figures.

In 2021, the average yield of paddy rice in SADC shrank to X tons per ha, reducing by -6.4% against the year before. Over the period under review, the yield showed a slight downturn. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2020 when the yield increased by 15% against the previous year. The level of yield peaked at X tons per ha in 2012; however, from 2013 to 2021, the yield stood at a somewhat lower figure. Despite the increased use of modern agricultural techniques and methods, future yield figures may still be impacted by adverse weather conditions.

In 2021, approx. X ha of paddy rice were harvested in SADC; rising by 1.7% compared with 2020 figures. The harvested area increased at an average annual rate of +3.5% from 2012 to 2021; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2018 with an increase of 20%. The level of harvested area peaked at X ha in 2019; however, from 2020 to 2021, the harvested area stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Paddy Rice Exports

Exports in SADC

In 2021, approx. X tons of paddy rice were exported in SADC; which is down by -49.9% on the year before. Overall, exports continue to indicate a perceptible shrinkage. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2020 with an increase of 172%. Over the period under review, the exports reached the maximum at X tons in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2021, the exports stood at a somewhat lower figure.

In value terms, paddy rice exports contracted dramatically to $X in 2021. In general, exports recorded a noticeable setback. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2020 with an increase of 156% against the previous year. The level of export peaked at $X in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2021, the exports remained at a lower figure.

Exports by Country

In 2021, Tanzania (X tons) represented the main exporter of paddy rice, creating 72% of total exports. It was distantly followed by South Africa (X tons), creating a 24% share of total exports. Zambia (X tons) took a relatively small share of total exports.

Exports from Tanzania increased at an average annual rate of +14.4% from 2012 to 2021. At the same time, Zambia (+18.4%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, Zambia emerged as the fastest-growing exporter exported in SADC, with a CAGR of +18.4% from 2012-2021. By contrast, South Africa (-15.8%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. While the share of Tanzania (+57 p.p.) and Zambia (+1.8 p.p.) increased significantly in terms of the total exports from 2012-2021, the share of South Africa (-56.7 p.p.) displayed negative dynamics.

In value terms, the largest paddy rice supplying countries in SADC were Tanzania ($X), South Africa ($X) and Zambia ($X), together accounting for 98% of total exports.

Among the main exporting countries, Zambia, with a CAGR of +18.6%, recorded the highest growth rate of the value of exports, over the period under review, while shipments for the other leaders experienced mixed trends in the exports figures.

Export Prices by Country

In 2021, the export price in SADC amounted to $X per ton, with an increase of 23% against the previous year. In general, the export price, however, showed a mild curtailment. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2013 when the export price increased by 29%. As a result, the export price attained the peak level of $X per ton. From 2014 to 2021, the export prices remained at a somewhat lower figure.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major exporting countries. In 2021, the country with the highest price was South Africa ($X per ton), while Tanzania ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by South Africa (+5.0%), while the other leaders experienced mixed trends in the export price figures.

Paddy Rice Imports

Imports in SADC

In 2021, approx. X tons of paddy rice were imported in SADC; with a decrease of -15.4% compared with 2020 figures. In general, imports continue to indicate a abrupt shrinkage. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2020 with an increase of 86% against the previous year. The volume of import peaked at X tons in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2021, imports stood at a somewhat lower figure.

In value terms, paddy rice imports shrank dramatically to $X in 2021. Overall, imports saw a drastic downturn. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2020 with an increase of 63% against the previous year. Over the period under review, imports reached the maximum at $X in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2021, imports failed to regain momentum.

Imports by Country

Madagascar was the key importer of paddy rice in SADC, with the volume of imports amounting to X tons, which was near 50% of total imports in 2021. It was distantly followed by Botswana (X tons), South Africa (X tons), Zimbabwe (X tons) and Namibia (X tons), together mixing up a 38% share of total imports. Democratic Republic of the Congo (X tons) and Lesotho (X tons) followed a long way behind the leaders.

Madagascar was also the fastest-growing in terms of the paddy rice imports, with a CAGR of +36.4% from 2012 to 2021. Namibia (-4.0%), Democratic Republic of the Congo (-9.3%), Botswana (-11.6%), South Africa (-11.7%), Zimbabwe (-13.6%) and Lesotho (-21.3%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. While the share of Madagascar (+48 p.p.) increased significantly in terms of the total imports from 2012-2021, the share of Zimbabwe (-5.7 p.p.), Lesotho (-8.9 p.p.), South Africa (-10.5 p.p.) and Botswana (-12 p.p.) displayed negative dynamics. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, Botswana ($X), Madagascar ($X) and South Africa ($X) were the countries with the highest levels of imports in 2021, with a combined 73% share of total imports.

Madagascar, with a CAGR of +11.6%, recorded the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of imports, among the main importing countries over the period under review, while purchases for the other leaders experienced a decline in the imports figures.

Import Prices by Country

The import price in SADC stood at $X per ton in 2021, waning by -17.1% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the import price recorded a pronounced downturn. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2019 when the import price increased by 23% against the previous year. Over the period under review, import prices reached the maximum at $X per ton in 2012; however, from 2013 to 2021, import prices stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Prices varied noticeably country of destination: the country with the highest price was Botswana ($X per ton), while Madagascar ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by South Africa (+6.2%), while the other leaders experienced mixed trends in the import price figures.

Source: IndexBox Platform