Parboiled vs White vs Jasmine Rice: Which Should You Import?
Rice importers usually choose between three main types: long grain white rice, parboiled rice and fragrant jasmine rice. Each suits different markets and buyers. This guide compares them so you can decide what to stock.
Quick comparison
| Long grain white | Parboiled | Jasmine | |
| How it is made | Husk and bran removed, grain polished | Partly boiled in the husk, dried, then milled | Fragrant variety, milled and polished |
| Cooked texture | Soft, slightly separate | Firm, grains stay separate | Soft, slightly sticky, floral aroma |
| Main buyers | Wholesalers, food service, everyday retail | West Africa, Middle East, South Asia, caterers | Asian supermarkets and restaurants, premium retail |
| Price level | Standard | Standard to slightly higher | Premium |
Long grain white rice
The everyday staple in many countries. It is graded mainly by the percentage of broken grains: 5% broken is a premium grade, while 25% broken is cheaper and common in price-sensitive markets. See our grains and rice range.
Parboiled rice
Parboiling pushes nutrients from the bran into the grain and hardens it, so it breaks less during milling and the cooked grains stay firm and separate. That makes it popular with caterers and in markets that cook rice in large pots. See parboiled rice.
Jasmine rice
A fragrant long grain rice with a natural aroma and soft texture. Buyers pay a premium for it, so check the fragrant rice purity in the contract, as lower-cost blends mix in non-fragrant rice. See jasmine rice.
What to check before importing rice
- Broken grain percentage and the grading standard used.
- Moisture, usually 14% maximum, to avoid spoilage in transit.
- Purity and admixture, especially fragrant rice purity for jasmine.
- Crop year: new crop rice cooks and smells better.
- Packaging: 5 kg to 50 kg bags, with private labelling if you sell under your own brand.
- Documents: phytosanitary certificate, certificate of origin and any import licence your country requires.
Get a rice quotation
Tell us the rice type, grade, packaging, quantity and destination port on WhatsApp +60 10-916 9253 or by email at info@globalsalesresources.com, and we will send a FOB or CIF quotation.