New-Crop Rice Output at 3.51 Million Tons... Down Over 30,000 Tons Year on Year

Ministry of Data and Statistics Announces Final Rice Production for 2026 Crop Year
10,000 Tons Below Forecast
Rice Prices at Production Areas: 57,403 Won per 20 kg... Up 0.7% Year Over Year

Rice production this year was more than 30,000 tons lower than last year. Drought and high temperatures in July and August cut production by more than 10,000 tons from the already lower-than-expected forecast.

The final estimate for 2026-crop-year rice production, released by the Ministry of Data and Statistics on November 13, was 3,508,000 tons, down 10,000 tons (0.3%) from the forecast announced on October 8. This was 31,000 tons less than the 3,539,000 tons produced in 2025.

The Asia Business Daily DB

An official from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said, "This year's rice yield was 523.6 kilograms per 10 ares, higher than both last year's 522 kilograms and the five-year average of 521 kilograms." The official added, "Although weather conditions were favorable throughout most of the growing season, the combined effects of drought and high temperatures in July and August appear to have caused final rice production to fall below the initial forecast."

The area for which applications were submitted to grow "rice for supply-and-demand adjustment"—rice introduced for the first time this year and set aside in advance from the table-rice market by restricting it to processing use in normal times—totaled 11,000 hectares, equivalent to about 58,000 tons. Taking this area into account, this year's production of rice for table use is estimated at around 3.45 million tons. That is 10,000 tons less than the initial forecast of 3.46 million tons, while this year's rice surplus has also fallen from an initial estimate of about 70,000 tons to around 60,000 tons.

On October 14, the government announced measures to stabilize rice supply and demand, including proceeding as planned with the return of the remaining borrowed government rice, taking the rice supply-and-demand situation into account. The government plans to closely monitor supply-and-demand trends and revise its stabilization measures if necessary.

Rice prices at production areas have remained somewhat higher than last year. These prices generally peak on October 5, when newly harvested rice starts to be shipped, and then decline. Last year, the price fell from 61,988 won per 20 kilograms on October 5 to 58,258 won on October 15, 57,403 won on October 25, and 56,954 won on November 5. This year, prices have also declined, from 58,803 won on October 5 to 57,580 won on October 15, 57,454 won on October 25, and 57,403 won on November 5. However, the decline has been more gradual than last year. As of November 5, the price at production areas stood at 57,403 won, up 449 won (0.7%) from 56,954 won a year earlier.

An official from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said, "Rice prices at production areas have been falling since peaking on October 5, but the decline has been smaller than last year." The official added, "The government will closely monitor market conditions, including rice purchase prices, prices at production areas, and consumer prices, and pursue supply-and-demand policies that benefit both farmers and consumers."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.