Rice imports in Zambia: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of rice by Zambia reached $15.5 million in 2024 (33.3 thousand tonnes). Value fell 22% from 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2020, at $21.6 million.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
Imports by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $15.5M | 33.3K t |
| 2023 | $20.0M | 47.1K t |
| 2022 | $15.8M | 32.5K t |
| 2021 | $13.8M | 20.2K t |
| 2020 | $21.6M | 24.6K t |
| 2019 | $21.4M | 28.1K t |
| 2018 | $14.4M | 22.4K t |
| 2017 | $10.0M | 20.6K t |
Where Zambia imports rice from
The largest suppliers were Thailand (35%), South Africa (18%), India (17%). Among the main suppliers, Mauritius grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Thailand | $5.4M | 35% |
| South Africa | $2.9M | 19% |
| India | $2.6M | 17% |
| Pakistan | $2.5M | 16% |
| Tanzania | $1.6M | 10% |
| Mauritius | $320K | 2.1% |
| China | $58K | 0.4% |
| United Arab Emirates | $54K | 0.4% |
| Burundi | $50K | 0.3% |
| Mozambique | $29K | 0.2% |
Product types under HS 1006
| 1006.40 | Broken rice | 56% |
| 1006.30 | Milled rice | 43% |
| 1006.10 | Paddy rice | 1.2% |
| 1006.20 | Brown rice | 0.3% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 1006.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $0.47 per kg, 27% below the world average of $0.64, which often means bulk or lower-grade product.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Rice exports from Zambia
Zambia exported $1.4 million of rice in 2024 (1.8 thousand tonnes). DR Congo alone took 95% of it.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| DR Congo | $1.3M | 95% |
| Zimbabwe | $60K | 4.4% |
| Malawi | $4K | 0.3% |
| Australia | $4K | 0.3% |
| South Africa | $2K | 0.1% |
| Namibia | $2K | 0.1% |
| Botswana | $0K | 0% |
Who is behind these numbers in Zambia?
The shipment records behind Zambia rice imports (HS 1006): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
Tell us what you trade and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
Mirror data: built from the shipment records of the countries that trade with it.
Source: CEPII BACI (reconciled UN Comtrade data), HS 2017 edition, release 202601, Etalab Open Licence 2.0. Annual values in US dollars at the customs border; quantities in tonnes where reported. HS 1006: Rice.
Common questions
What is the value of rice imported by Zambia?
Zambia imported rice worth $15.5 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 33.3 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 135th of 223 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was down 22% on 2023.
Which countries supply rice to Zambia?
Thailand was the largest supplier with 35% of the value ($5.4 million), followed by South Africa (18%) and India (17%). The top three together account for 70%, out of 25 supplier countries in total. China grew fastest among the top ten, up 662% on the year.
What is the average import price of rice per kg?
The average declared import value was about $0.47 per kg in 2024, 27% below the world average of $0.64 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of rice to Zambia changed since 2017?
Imports went from $10.0 million in 2017 to $15.5 million in 2024, an increase of 56%. The peak was 2020 at $21.6 million. Over 8 years the average was $16.6 million a year.
Does Zambia also export rice?
Yes. Zambia exported $1.4 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to the DR Congo, Zimbabwe and Malawi. On balance Zambia is a net importer of this product, by about $14.1 million a year.
What is the HS code for rice?
The HS code for rice is heading 1006. In Zambia the largest six-digit codes were 1006.40 (56% of the value) and 1006.30 (42%).
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
EximDataX rebuilds Zambia trade from the customs records of its trading partners, so the companies shipping to and from it are visible. Ask for a live look at your product.
Same product, other countries
Rice product types in Zambia
See what your buyers are buying.Then decide.
Everything we show you comes from official customs filings — records, not claims. 30 minutes. Your shipment. Your HS code. Real platform. If you don’t see something new about your market by the end of the call, we walk away. No follow-ups.