This is a best prospect industry sector for this country. Includes a market overview and trade data.
Last Published: 3/7/2017

Overview                                                                                       

Rice is the main staple food for most households in Madagascar.  Large areas of the northwest and center east of the country are dedicated solely to production of this crop, yet this is still insufficient to satisfy local demand.  An estimated 200,000 tons of rice are imported to Madagascar every year.  The government also restricts the export of domestically produced rice, authorizing only a very limited amount of exports, requiring a special license.
Units: USD thousands
 201320142015
(Jan-May)		2016
(estimated)
Total Market SizeN/AN/AN/AN/A
Total Local ProductionN/AN/AN/AN/A
Total Exports50633N/A
Total Imports192,372144,79356,814N/A
Imports from the U.S.1,6870773N/A
Exchange Rate: 1 USD2,308.322,414.812,738.88N/A
Total Market Size= (Total Local Production + Total Imports) - (Total Exports)
Data Sources:
Total Local Production: N/A
Total Exports: Malagasy Customs (FOB)
Total Imports: Malagasy Customs (CIF)
Imports from U.S.: Malagasy Customs (CIF)
Products covered are within HTS Chapter 1006 Rice, which covers subsections 100610, 100620, 100630 and 100640.                                                      

Opportunities                                                                                  

Rice imports have long benefited from duty free treatment from successive Malagasy Governments due to its importance to the national diet, despite the urgings of the IMF and other international donors.  Currently, many investors assert that some importers mislabel wheat flour and other products as rice in order to benefit from the duty free treatment.
 
Principal competition for U.S. exporters in the rice sector may come from India, Pakistan and Vietnam.  Over 425,000 tons of rice were imported in 2013, largely exceeding the estimated needs of the population.  In 2015 to date, the only imports of rice to Madagascar from the U.S. were imported by NGOs and relief organizations.

Resources                                                                

For additional information on export opportunities in the rice sector, potential exporters can contact the Ministry of Commerce, the American Chamber of Commerce, or other business associations (see Chapter 9).  Please also do not hesitate to contact the Embassy’s Political-Economic Section for more information.
 
                                

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