Rice
Highlights
LDC is a world leader in the merchandizing of rice, a crucial staple that provides more than a fifth of the calories consumed by people worldwide.
Merchandizer
Distributor
Supplier
About Rice
Approximately 488 million tons of rice are grown annually around the world. Asia accounts for around 90% of global rice production, 85% of global demand and 75% of the world’s exportable surplus.
Most rice is consumed as white rice (husked and polished), however rice flour is becoming popular with bakers as a gluten-free starch alternative, and rice milling by-products include bran, oil and starch.
Thailand, India and Vietnam are the world’s top three rice exporters, followed by the US, Pakistan, Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil and Myanmar. Africa accounts for approximately one third of global demand.
Our Rice Value Chain
Each of our business lines is integrating further across the five steps of our value chain, as we respond to the need for a traceable and responsible supply line from farmer to consumer
01Originate & Produce
01Originate & Produce
02Process & Refine
02Process & Refine
03Store & Transport
03Store & Transport
04Research & Merchandize
04Research & Merchandize
05Customize & Distribute
05Customize & Distribute
01Originate & Produce
01Originate & Produce
02Process & Refine
02Process & Refine
03Store & Transport
03Store & Transport
04Research & Merchandize
04Research & Merchandize
05Customize & Distribute
05Customize & Distribute
Our Strengths
A highly experienced and diverse team, and our top-rate market research, are the foundations of our leading position in rice merchandizing.
Relying on our extensive global network, we work to meet increasing demand driven by steep population growth and urbanization. Leveraging LDC’s ocean freight capabilities, the Rice Platform serves a growing global market with competitively priced, quality products.
We are committed to upholding both industry best practices and our own strong risk management principles and standards in our rice origination, trading, sales and distribution activities.
We continue to expand our activities in Africa to consolidate our position as a leading supplier in the region.
Committed to Sustainable Rice
We are committed to achieving deforestation- and conversion-free (DCF) supply chains across our global operations. We are progressing significantly toward this goal, with over 89% of our rice volumes already verified as DCF under LDC methodology as of end of 2024. Ongoing efforts include the use of remote sensing technology to support verification of product volumes and responsible sourcing decisions.
To support responsible sourcing in Asia – where we are a leading purchaser of rice, primarily sourcing in bulk from wholesalers and local traders – we have taken steps to better understand and address potential labor and human rights risks in our rice supply chains, engaging with stakeholders in key origins such as Thailand and Vietnam.
In Africa, we are working with partners to help smallholder rice farmers become more competitive and access domestic markets. In northern Côte d’Ivoire, for example, we established a project with the Louis Dreyfus Foundation to build a sustainable, inclusive and traceable supply chain linking more than 3,600 smallholder farmers in Boundiali to processors and local markets.
Meet Our People
“I like the dynamic, ever-changing and challenging environment”
Akshay – Trading Manager, India
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