How to Import Rice from Vietnam and Thailand: Grades and Specifications
A buyer's guide to sourcing rice: broken-grain percentage grading, jasmine vs. standard long-grain, moisture specs, packaging, and required export documents.
Vietnam and Thailand are two of the world's largest rice exporters, together supplying a substantial share of internationally traded rice, and importing from either means specifying the exact grade you need — most importantly the broken-grain percentage (5%, 10%, 15%, 25%) — since "white rice" alone isn't a tradeable specification. Add HS code 1006 (rice) with the correct subheading for milled/broken/parboiled state, a phytosanitary certificate, and fumigation documentation if shipped in bulk or bagged with wooden dunnage, and you have the core of a rice import.
Broken-grain percentage is the primary grade specification
Rice is graded largely by what percentage of the grains are broken rather than whole — a lower broken percentage means a higher-quality, more expensive product:
- 5% broken — premium grade, whole long grains, commands the highest price.
- 10–15% broken — common commercial grade for general food-service and retail use.
- 25% broken — lower-cost grade, often used for processing (rice flour, animal feed blending, or budget retail markets).
Specify broken-grain percentage explicitly in every RFQ — a supplier quoting "white rice" without this detail hasn't given you a comparable quote to anyone else's.
Rice type matters as much as grade
- Long-grain (jasmine, fragrant varieties) — Thailand's Hom Mali (jasmine) rice and Vietnam's ST-series fragrant rice are well-known premium export varieties with distinct aroma and texture profiles that command different pricing than standard long-grain white rice.
- Parboiled rice — partially boiled before milling, changing texture and nutrient retention; a distinct product category with its own buyer base, mostly in South Asian and African markets.
- Glutinous (sticky) rice — a separate product entirely, used for different culinary applications, not interchangeable with standard long-grain in sourcing decisions.
Confirm which type your end market actually wants — "rice" alone covers products with meaningfully different buyer pools and pricing.
Moisture and quality specifications beyond broken percentage
Beyond broken-grain percentage, a complete rice specification typically includes:
- Moisture content — typically specified under 14% for stable long-term storage; higher moisture risks mold and pest issues during transit and storage.
- Foreign matter/admixture limits — the percentage of non-rice material (husks, stones, other grains) tolerated, usually specified as a small percentage.
- Chalky grain percentage — opaque, less translucent grains that affect visual quality and, for some buyers, cooking characteristics.
Request a Certificate of Analysis covering these parameters for any order beyond a trial quantity.
Packaging and shipping
Rice ships either in bulk (breakbulk vessels for very large volumes) or in bags (typically 25 kg or 50 kg woven polypropylene bags for most commercial trade). Confirm your supplier's standard packaging matches your distribution needs — bulk shipping is usually only economical at container-load-plus volumes, while bagged rice suits most standard import orders.
Documentation checklist
- Commercial invoice and packing list
- Certificate of Origin
- Phytosanitary certificate
- Fumigation certificate (for bulk shipments or wooden packaging materials)
- Certificate of Analysis (moisture, broken percentage, foreign matter) for orders beyond initial trial quantities
FAQ
What does "5% broken" rice mean?
It means 5% of the grains in the shipment are broken rather than whole — a lower percentage indicates higher quality and commands a higher price than a higher broken percentage like 25%.
Is jasmine rice the same product as standard long-grain white rice?
No — jasmine and similar fragrant long-grain varieties (like Thailand's Hom Mali or Vietnam's ST-series) have distinct aroma and texture and are priced and marketed separately from standard long-grain white rice, even though both fall under the same broad rice category.
What moisture content should export-grade rice have?
Typically under 14% for stable storage — higher moisture increases the risk of mold and pest damage during the multi-week transit and storage period.
Should I buy rice in bulk or bagged?
Bulk (breakbulk) shipping is usually only cost-effective at large volumes; bagged rice (commonly 25 kg or 50 kg bags) suits most standard commercial import orders and is more flexible for distribution.