Colombia is crucial market for U.S. rice industry

BOGOTÁ, COLOMBIA — Last week, U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Alexis Taylor led a group of U.S. cooperators and private businesses on an agribusiness trade mission here. Among the participants was Asiha Grigsby, USA Rice senior director of international promotion for the Western Hemisphere, who played a key role in representing the U.S. rice industry during this critical mission. Colombia, a premier destination for American agricultural products, is the largest importer of U.S. rice in South America. In the first five months of 2024, Colombia imported an impressive 140,000 metric tons of U.S. rice, valued at $62.4 million, primarily paddy rice for further processing and limited quantities of U.S. milled long grain and sushi rice. This highlights Colombia's importance as a crucial partner for the U.S. rice industry, as well as the broader agricultural export market. Since the implementation of the U.S.-Colombia Trade ...