The global rice market in the 2025-2026 crop season is at a rare juncture not seen in decades: record-high supply, large accumulated stockpiles, and prolonged downward pressure on prices. The core driver of this trend comes from the historically high production in India, a country that has risen to become the dominant force in both the supply and pricing of global rice. Price pressure on the global rice market According to the latest forecasts from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the world's rice production in the 2025-2026 crop season is expected to reach about 556.4 million tons, a sharp increase from the previous season and setting a new peak. Due to the large initial stockpile, the total global rice supply is estimated to reach 767.2 million tons, the highest in history. In this overall picture, India emerges as the key factor. The country's rice production is forecast to reach 151-152 million tons, far exceeding traditional competitors such ...