South Korea's rice production is expected to decline in the 2026-27 marketing year, according to a report from the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the US Department of Agriculture. The government's initiative to replace rice acreage with other grains is forecast to bring output to 3.5 million tonnes.
In the previous 2025-26 period, the country produced 3.54 million tonnes of rice. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) continues its efforts to diversify rice production in order to align supply with demand. Farmers are being encouraged to replace rice with alternative crops, including soybeans, rice for supply stabilization, rice for flour, forage feed, and other uses.
The FAS noted that rice consumption has been steadily declining, driven by a shrinking population and the growing popularity of alternative meals that replace traditional rice-based cuisine among younger generations. Only variations in feed use have had a significant impact on total rice consumption, the report said.
Rice imports for 2026-27 are estimated at 408,000 tonnes, consistent with the country's minimum market access import scheme.
© Copyright 2025 The SSResource Media.
All rights reserved.