In May 2023, global rice prices surged by 2.9%, reaching their highest level since October 2011, primarily due to a rise in the Indica rice species, according to the FAO. This increase is attributed to concerns about production impacts from the potential El Niño phenomenon and tight supply, with Vietnam and Pakistan experiencing the most significant price hikes. The price surge was not uniform across all rice types, with the Japonica species showing a decline. The price fluctuations are expected to impact the buying behavior of the Bangladeshi market, despite the government's successful sourcing of 0.9 million tonnes of rice. The FAO report also highlights the variation in export prices for Indica rice across major Asian countries.