Rice futures traded around $10.9 per hundredweight, near the lowest since early March, amid prospects of ample supply despite increased logistical costs and heightened geopolitical risks. Several Asian producers such as Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand are currently in the peak of the winter–spring harvest, supporting near-term supply availability. Meanwhile, the USDA, in its April monthly report, projected higher global rice supplies for 2025/26, largely due to greater production in Thailand, along with lower consumption and higher ending stocks. The US rice outlook showed steady supplies, lower domestic use, reduced exports, and higher ending stocks. Data released on March 31 indicated that US rice planting intentions for 2026 showed a significant reduction in cultivated area amid climate challenges, rising costs, and global market uncertainty.
