Peru imported 49% less rice in 2026, and Ecuador is now its third supplier
Brazil overtook Uruguay as Peru's top rice supplier, and Ecuador passed Thailand
Rice imported into Peru by origin, 1 January to 20 September of each year. Source SUNAT.
All the figures
| Measure | 1 Jan to 20 Sep 2025 | 1 Jan to 20 Sep 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Value imported | US$ 75M | US$ 38M |
| Tonnes | 117,000 | 72,000 |
| Price per kilo | US$ 0.64 | US$ 0.53 |
| Importers | 77 | 61 |
| From Brazil | US$ 30M | US$ 18M |
| From Uruguay | US$ 34M | US$ 15M |
| From Ecuador | US$ 277,000 | US$ 3,085,000 |
| From Thailand | US$ 7.6M | US$ 871,000 |
Customs figures show how much rice Peru buys abroad, where it comes from and who brings it in. In 2026, 72,000 tonnes entered the country, 38% less than the 117,000 of the same stretch of 2025. The value fell faster than the tonnage because the price per kilo also dropped, from US$ 0.64 to US$ 0.53. The number of buyers fell as well, from 85 companies in 2025 to 61 in 2026.
Uruguay and Brazil supply almost nine of every ten dollars
Since 2025, Uruguay accounts for 46% of the value imported and Brazil for 42%. Both fell in 2026, at different speeds. Uruguay went from US$ 34 million in the 2025 stretch to US$ 15 million, down 56%. Brazil went from US$ 30 million to US$ 18 million, down 39%.
As a result, Brazil overtook Uruguay as the top supplier in 2026, with 48% of the value against 40%. Brazilian rice came in at US$ 0.52 a kilo and Uruguayan rice at US$ 0.55.
Smaller rice importers in Peru pay more per kilo
Rice imported into Peru, January 2025 to 20 September 2026. Source SUNAT.
Thailand nearly disappears and Ecuador takes its place
The biggest change is in the origin. In the 2025 stretch, Thailand shipped almost US$ 8 million of rice. In 2026 it stands at US$ 870,000, down 88%. Alejandrina SAC brought in more than US$ 2 million of Thai rice in that stretch of 2025 and less than US$ 100,000 in 2026. Induamerica Internacional SAC fell from US$ 1,470,000 to US$ 530,000.
Ecuador moved the other way. It rose from US$ 277,000 to US$ 3,085,000 and is already the third supplier of the year. Almost all of that jump comes from one company. Negocios Ldl and El Trebol EIRL imported US$ 58,700 of Ecuadorian rice in 2025 and US$ 2,566,000 in 2026, which makes it the fourth largest importer of the year. Compañia Agroindustrial Santa Ana SAC also brought in US$ 500,000 from Ecuador in 2026.
The largest buyers are buying less
The ten largest importers account for 66% of the rice that entered since 2025, and the top two for 31%. Both bought considerably less in 2026. Costeño Alimentos SAC went from US$ 13 million in the 2025 stretch to almost US$ 7 million, all of it from Uruguay. Comercial Isabelita SAC dropped from US$ 10 million to less than US$ 4 million.
There are 34 companies that imported rice in 2025 and show no purchases in 2026. In 2025 they totalled US$ 13 million. One of them is Corporacion El Moshaco SAC, which brought in almost US$ 3 million. On the other side, ten companies are new in 2026, and together they add up to US$ 428,000. The largest is Region Agronegocios SA, with US$ 210,000 of Argentine rice.
Price depends on the size of the importer
The 25 importers above US$ 1 million bring in 89% of the value. All of them pay between US$ 0.46 and US$ 0.64 a kilo, and the median company of that group pays US$ 0.58. Among the 29 that imported less than US$ 100,000, the median company pays US$ 0.73.
At the other end, 15 companies pay more than US$ 1 a kilo. Together they add up to US$ 860,000. They bring in specialty rice, such as arborio and carnaroli from Italy, or rice from the United States and Spain. It is a separate market, with another buyer and another price.
What to watch from here
Imported rice depends on Uruguay and Brazil and on a few large buyers, who in 2026 bought half as much or less. The most likely reading is that the market changed origin in a single year, with Thailand almost out and Ecuador in, although nine months are not yet enough to know whether Ecuador stays or it was a single season.
Three things are worth following. First, whether the large importers recover their pace in the last quarter of 2026. Second, whether Ecuador holds its place. Third, whether Thailand comes back.
The 2026 figures run to 20 September and are compared with the same stretch of 2025. The country is the origin the importer declares at customs. Values are FOB, without freight or insurance.
For a rice exporter, the last quarter of 2026 will show whether it pays to approach the usual large importers or the ones that have just started buying from Ecuador.
Source: SUNAT. Prepared by Garay Company.
Frequently asked questions
How much rice did Peru import in 2026?
US$ 38 million and 72,000 tonnes up to 20 September 2026, against US$ 75 million and 117,000 tonnes in the same stretch of 2025. The price per kilo fell from US$ 0.64 to US$ 0.53.
Where does Peru import its rice from?
Uruguay and Brazil supply almost nine of every ten dollars. In 2026 Brazil became the top supplier with 48% of the value, ahead of Uruguay with 40%, and Ecuador rose to third with US$ 3,085,000.
Who are the largest rice importers in Peru?
Costeño Alimentos SAC and Comercial Isabelita SAC together hold 31% of the rice imported since 2025. Both bought half as much or less in 2026 than in the same stretch of 2025.
What happened to Thai rice in Peru?
Thai rice fell from almost US$ 8 million in the 2025 stretch to US$ 870,000 in 2026, a drop of 88%.
How much do Peruvian importers pay per kilo of rice?
The 25 importers above US$ 1 million pay between US$ 0.46 and US$ 0.64 a kilo, with a median of US$ 0.58. Importers below US$ 100,000 pay a median of US$ 0.73.
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