Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - USDA Post Estimates Jordan 2015 Rice Imports at196,000 Tons; Up 30% from Last Year USDA Post estimates Jordan's 2015 rice imports at around 196,000 tons, up about 30% from an estimated 151,000 tons last year and down about 2% from USDA's official estimates of around 200,000 tons.

Rice is a staple food in Jordan but the country does not produce any rice due to water scarcity.

According to the Post, average annual rice consumption in Jordan is about 27 kilograms per person and medium grain (Camolino) rice variety is the most preferred one in Jordan. It constitutes of about 90% of total rice imports by Jordan. The Post estimates Jordan 2015 rice consumption at around 190,000 tons, up about 27% from around 150,000 tons last year and down about 5% from USDA's official estimates of around 200,000 tons. It estimates rice consumption to remain at 190,000 tons in 2016 also.

The U.S. accounts for over half of Jordan's annual rice imports and the remaining is filled by
Thailand, India and Turkey. It estimates Jordan’s rice imports to decline to around 190,000 tons in
2016.

Jordan does not maintain any buffer stocks for rice and the government does not impose any
restrictions on rice imports. Rice is imported and distributed by private traders in a market­based
system according to free market rules of supply and demand, says the Post.

*Oryza