Episode 65 - 2025/26 Rice Market Outlook

Historic April floods in the Mid-South forced widespread replanting, setting the stage for a volatile 2025 rice marketing year. Hunter Biram and Ryan Loy are joined by Alvaro Durand-Morat to unpack global market forces reshaping U.S. rice competitiveness. They discuss how India’s lifted export ban, record global harvests, and shifting import policies in key markets like the Philippines have driven prices down nearly 30% from last year. They also examine the quality challenges facing U.S. rice in contrast to Mercosur competitors, the political motivations behind trade bans, and what opportunities remain for Arkansas producers amid high beginning stocks and tightening margins.