MANILA, Philippines – The benchmark for international rice prices fell to its lowest level in six years in 2025, although it crept higher in December, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN).
The FAO All Rice Index averaged 103.5 points in 2025, a 22.2-percent decrease from the past year, marking its lowest nominal level since 2019.
“Although quotations declined across all the major market segments in 2025, price falls were the sharpest for Indica rice,” the UN agency said.
In a separate report, the FAO said global rice trade regained momentum in 2024 and 2025 due to sufficient rice for export, lower stocks among importing countries and the lifting of India’s export ban.
“Large exportable supplies have fueled intense competition among exporters, driving international rice prices down continuously since May,” based on FAO’s Food Outlook published in November.
The report noted that the absence of major rice importers further weighed down international prices, particularly for Indica. It cited Indonesia’s absence from the market and the Philippines’ temporary ban on importing the household staple food.
Indica
Among rice varieties, the FAO rice price index recorded the biggest decrease in price quotations for Indica or long-grain rice, dropping by 26.1 percent to 106.9 points in 2025.
Aromatic quotations settled at 93.4 points, down 9.2 percent. Japonica variety fell by 5.7 percent to 95.7 points, while glutinous or sticky rice quotations dropped by 4.7 percent to 102.3 points.
By December, however, rice prices have firmed up.
On a monthly basis, the FAO All Rice Price Index hit 101 points in December, an uptick of 4.3 percent from November. However, this was 15.2 percent lower than a year ago.
The FAO data noted that glutinous or sticky rice quotations climbed the most in December, surging by about 16 percent to 111 points, a 15-month high, underpinned by Chinese purchases and bullish sentiment in Thailand.
In the case of Japonica and Aromatic rice, demand fueled month-on-month price increases for both varieties, rising by 3.4 percent to 95.8 points and by 2.3 percent to 94.7 points, respectively.
Indica price index, meanwhile, stood at 102.7 points, up 4.3 percent. INQ
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