Rice consumption in China from marketing year 2015/16 to 2025/26, with a forecast for 2026/27 (in 1,000 metric tons)

China had the highest rice consumption in the world, consuming around *** million metric tons in the marketing year 2025/2026, and this figure was forecasted to decrease slightly to ***  million metric tons in the following year. 

Rice as a staple food

In China, both rice and noodles are staple foods, but the consumption patterns depend on the region. Generally, rice is consumed more in the south, while noodles are more popular in the north. Typically, rice is served plain to be eaten with other dishes, but there are other variations of rice such as congees and fried rice, which can also be consumed on its own.

Regional importance of rice

Rice is a popular food throughout Asia, and many Asian countries are leading production as well as consumption levels worldwide. These include India, Indonesia, Bangladesh and Vietnam. Despite the consistently high domestic production of rice in China, the country was one of the biggest rice importers in the whole world, mainly from other Asian countries.