If you’re comparing Thai long grain white rice bulk suppliers USA importers use, you’re probably after one of three things: a better price per tonne, a softer, cleaner looking grain than you’ve been getting, or a second source so you’re not hostage to one supplier. We mill and export Thai long grain white rice from our own facility in Thailand, in 5%, 10%, 15%, 25% and 100% broken grades, fully sortexed if you want it, and ship it by the container to American importers, distributors, food service companies and food manufacturers.
This post covers what Thai long grain white rice actually is, how the grades differ, who in the US buys it and why, what the specifications look like, how bulk buying works from contract to warehouse, and the mistakes I see first time importers make. I’ll be straight about where Thai rice fits and where it doesn’t, because a supplier who oversells is a supplier you’ll leave.
Table of Contents
Thai Long Grain White Rice Bulk Suppliers USA: Why Buy Thai at All?
It’s a fair question. The US grows a lot of long grain rice of its own in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Texas, and exports a good share of it. The USDA Economic Research Service publishes the numbers if you’re curious. So why would anyone go looking for Thai long grain white rice bulk suppliers USA side?
From what our American customers tell us, it comes down to a handful of reasons:
- Texture. Thai long grain white rice tends to cook a little softer and fluffier than many American long grains, which suits Asian, Latin and Caribbean home cooking.
- Appearance. Fully sortexed Thai rice is bright, even and clean, which matters for retail bags with a window.
- Price. Depending on the season, freight and tariffs, Thai rice can land competitively, especially the higher broken grades.
- Broken rice. Thai 100% broken rice is a staple ingredient for some food manufacturers, brewers and pet food makers.
- Customer preference. Some communities simply prefer Thai rice because it’s what they grew up with.
- Supply security. Two origins are safer than one.
It isn’t right for everyone. If your customers want the firmer, very separate texture of classic Southern long grain, domestic rice may suit them better. We’ve written a whole comparison on that: Thai long grain rice vs American long grain rice.
What We Sell: Grades and Specifications
Unlike many Thai long grain white rice bulk suppliers USA buyers come across, we mill everything ourselves. All our Thai long grain white rice is milled from Thai paddy at our own facility, checked against specification before packing, and backed by a certificate of analysis.
| Specification | 5% broken | 10% broken | 15% broken | 25% broken |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grain type | Long grain | Long grain | Long grain | Long grain |
| Broken grains | 5% max | 10% max | 15% max | 25% max |
| Moisture | 14% max | 14% max | 14% max | 14% max |
| Purity | 95% min | 95% min | 95% min | 95% min |
| Foreign matter | 0.1% max | 0.1% max | 0.1% max | 0.1% max |
| Damaged grains | 1% max | 1% max | 1% max | 1.25% max |
| Chalky grains | 2% max | 2% max | 3% max | 4% max |
| Sortexed | Available | Available | Available | Available |
| Crop | Current season | Current season | Current season | Current season |
Packing for all grades: 5 lb, 10 lb, 25 lb, 50 lb, or 5 kg, 10 kg, 25 kg, 50 kg, plus jumbo bags for industrial buyers, plain or private label. Full details are on the product pages for white rice 5% broken, white rice 10% broken, white rice 25% broken, Thai white rice 100% sortexed and Thai white rice 100% broken.
Which Grade for Which American Buyer
5% broken, sortexed
The premium choice for retail bags and restaurants where the plate matters, and the grade most Thai long grain white rice bulk suppliers USA buyers ask about first. Mostly whole, bright grains. If you’re selling to supermarkets, this is the grade to start with. Our post on Thai white rice 5% broken price per ton shows where it sits on price.
10% and 15% broken
The workhorse grades for food service and value retail. They look good in the pot and cost noticeably less. See Thai white rice 15% broken specification for the details on that grade.
25% broken
A budget grade for institutional kitchens, catering and price driven markets. More broken pieces but the same taste. Read Thai white rice 25% broken price per ton for more.
100% broken
For food manufacturers: rice flour, snacks, noodles, brewing, baby food, pet food. Our guide what is broken rice used for lists the main uses, and rice supplier for food manufacturers covers that side of our business.
Who Buys Thai Long Grain White Rice in the US
- Asian, Latin and Caribbean grocery distributors who want a softer rice than domestic long grain.
- Food service distributors supplying restaurants, schools, hospitals and caterers.
- Private label brands looking for a reliable second origin.
- Food manufacturers buying broken rice and rice for processing.
- Repackers buying 50 lb or jumbo bags and packing locally.
If you’re also after fragrant rice for the same customers, read our posts on wholesale jasmine rice suppliers USA and jasmine rice demand in the USA.
How to Vet Thai Long Grain White Rice Bulk Suppliers USA Buyers Shortlist
Whichever Thai long grain white rice bulk suppliers USA importers end up shortlisting, check these points. We’re happy to be checked the same way.
- Do they mill it or trade it? A miller can tell you about paddy, milling date and sorting. A trader often can’t.
- Specs in writing. Broken percentage, moisture, chalky grains, foreign matter, crop year, all in the contract.
- Independent inspection. SGS, Intertek, Bureau Veritas or similar at loading, and you should be able to choose.
- Pre shipment samples from your actual lot, not last year’s best sample.
- US paperwork. FDA facility registration, support for your FSVP, labels that meet US rules.
- Track record. References or shipment history to North America.
- How they handle claims. Ask what happened the last time a shipment had a problem.
The US Import Side
Good Thai long grain white rice bulk suppliers USA importers rely on will support you on paperwork. I’m a rice exporter, not a US compliance advisor, so confirm details with your customs broker. In general, though:
- The packing facility must be registered with the FDA. We give you our number.
- Your broker files FDA prior notice before arrival.
- Most importers need a Foreign Supplier Verification Program. The FDA’s FSVP page explains it.
- Retail bags need US compliant labels, including a Nutrition Facts panel and country of origin.
- Import duties on rice, and any additional tariffs on Thai goods, have changed in recent years. Check the current rate with your broker before you price.
From our side, each container goes with a commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin, phytosanitary certificate, fumigation certificate, certificate of analysis and an independent quality and weight certificate. A halal certificate is available on request. See rice export documents for the full list.
Bulk Packing and Container Loads
| Pack | Typical buyer | Approx. per 20 ft container |
|---|---|---|
| 50 lb bag | Food service, repackers | About 1,100 bags |
| 25 lb bag | Grocery, food service | About 2,200 bags |
| 10 lb and 5 lb | Retail | Packed in bales |
| Jumbo bag | Manufacturers, repackers | By arrangement |
Most Thai long grain white rice bulk suppliers USA buyers deal with load about 25 tonnes of bagged rice in a 20 foot container, and so do we. See how many tons of rice fit in a 20ft container for the maths.
Pricing, Minimum Order and Lead Time
Prices from Thai long grain white rice bulk suppliers USA side move with the Thai harvest, government policy, the baht and freight. We quote on a dated offer, FOB Bangkok or Laem Chabang, or CFR and CIF to your US port. Minimum order is one 20 foot container, with mixed grades and bag sizes allowed. Lead time is usually 15 to 30 days from confirmed order. Read FOB vs CIF rice price before comparing quotes and Thai rice minimum order quantity for how loads are split.
How Thai Long Grain White Rice Is Milled
One reason to deal directly with Thai long grain white rice bulk suppliers USA buyers can actually question is that you get to understand what happens before the rice is bagged. Here’s how it works at our mill, in plain terms.
- Paddy intake. Paddy from Thai farms is checked for moisture, variety and impurities before it goes into storage.
- Drying and storage. Paddy is dried to a safe moisture level and stored until milling.
- Cleaning. Stones, straw, dust and empty grains are taken out.
- Husking. The husk comes off, leaving brown rice.
- Whitening and polishing. The bran layer is removed in stages. Gentle polishing keeps more grains whole.
- Grading. Brokens are separated by size so we can blend to the exact broken percentage on your contract.
- Colour sorting. Optical sorters reject yellow, chalky, red and dark grains and any remaining foreign matter.
- Blending and packing. Whole grains and the agreed share of brokens are blended, weighed and packed with lot codes.
Each of those steps affects how the rice looks and cooks. If you’d like the details on sorting, read what is sortexed rice.
Buying From a US Distributor vs Buying Direct
Most American buyers start with a domestic distributor rather than Thai long grain white rice bulk suppliers USA importers buy from directly. That’s fine when volumes are small. Once you’re moving a container or more a month, the sums change, and that’s usually when people start looking for Thai long grain white rice bulk suppliers USA importers buy from directly.
| US distributor | Direct from a Thai mill | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per pound | Higher, includes margin and warehousing | Lower, mill price plus freight |
| Order size | A pallet or a truckload | A container |
| Your own brand | Rarely | Yes |
| Freshness | Depends on their stock | Milled to order |
| Paperwork | They handle it | You and your broker |
| Choice of grade | What they stock | Whatever you specify |
Plenty of businesses do both for a while: a distributor for top ups, direct containers for the bulk of their volume.
Food Service: What Kitchens Need
Restaurants, school districts, hospitals and caterers buy a lot of long grain white rice, and they want it to behave the same way every day. When food service buyers talk to Thai long grain white rice bulk suppliers USA side, the questions are nearly always the same.
- Will every bag cook the same? Same grade, same mill, same specification, every container.
- Is the bag easy to handle? 25 lb and 50 lb bags with strong stitching and an inner liner if needed.
- Will supply run out? Regular shipments planned ahead, with stock arriving before you run low.
- Is the price stable? We can quote for scheduled shipments so you can plan your menu costs.
For most kitchens, 10% or 15% broken gives the best balance of cost and appearance. Hotels and higher end restaurants often move up to 5% broken sortexed. Buyers who also serve jasmine rice should look at bulk jasmine rice for restaurants.
Private Label Long Grain Rice
If you sell to grocery stores, a private label bag is usually the most profitable way to do it, and it’s a service the better Thai long grain white rice bulk suppliers USA buyers work with all offer. We print your artwork in Thailand, pack the rice and ship it ready for the shelf. Retail bags for the US need English labelling, net weight in US and metric units, a Nutrition Facts panel and “Product of Thailand”. Our post on private label rice walks through proofs and printing, and supermarket buyers may like rice supplier for supermarkets.
Thai Long Grain White Rice Bulk Suppliers USA Buyers Use, by Region
Who buys Thai long grain white rice in America depends a lot on where you are.
Florida and the Southeast. Large Caribbean and Latin American communities, plus a strong food service trade. Buyers here often like a softer rice for rice and beans, arroz con pollo and Caribbean style dishes. 10% and 15% broken in 25 lb and 50 lb bags move well.
New York and New Jersey. A mix of Asian, Caribbean, West African and Latin American grocers, all in a small area. Distributors here often take mixed containers with several grades and bag sizes.
Texas and the Gulf. Strong food service demand and a lot of Asian and Latin grocery. Houston is a natural port of entry.
California. Asian grocery, food manufacturers and repackers. Broken rice for processing sells well here too.
The Midwest. Mostly supplied by Chicago distributors, with growing demand from food service and institutional buyers.
Thai long grain white rice bulk suppliers USA importers stick with are the ones who understand that mix and help plan containers around it, rather than pushing one grade at everyone.
Cooking Notes for Your Customers
Thai long grain white rice is easy to cook, but it behaves a little differently from firmer domestic long grain. Printing a simple method on the bag saves complaints.
- Stovetop: rinse once or twice, then use about 1.5 cups of water per cup of rice. Bring to the boil, cover, simmer on low for 15 to 18 minutes, rest for 5 minutes and fluff.
- Rice cooker: use the white rice setting and the standard water line.
- Restaurant batches: start at roughly 1 to 1.4 by weight of water to rice and adjust once for your equipment. Then keep it there, because the rice will stay consistent.
Higher broken grades absorb water a little faster, so they need slightly less water and a gentler stir.
Storage Once It Lands
White rice is robust, but a hot, damp warehouse will still hurt it. Keep bags on pallets, off the floor and away from walls. Keep the space dry and ventilated, and away from chemicals and strong smells. Rotate stock first in, first out, and check older stock regularly. In Florida, Texas and the Gulf, plan smaller and more frequent containers through the summer months.
Stored properly, milled white rice keeps its quality for many months, which gives you room to buy a little ahead when prices are good.
How an Order Works With Us
- Enquiry. Tell us the grade, sortexed or not, bag sizes, brand, quantity and port.
- Samples. We courier samples. You cook and check them.
- Offer. A dated offer with specs, price, Incoterm and lead time.
- Contract. Specs, inspection, documents and payment terms in writing.
- Bags. For private label, we send a proof and print on approval.
- Milling and packing. Rice is milled to order, sorted and packed with lot codes.
- Inspection. An independent surveyor checks quality and weight at loading.
- Shipment. The container sails and documents follow.
- Clearance. Your broker handles entry, and the rice goes to your warehouse.
After the first container, repeat orders are usually just an email confirming quantities and dates.
Mistakes First Time Importers Make
- Comparing FOB with CIF and thinking one supplier is cheaper.
- Forgetting landed costs such as duty, port charges, broker fees, drayage and warehousing.
- Printing labels without a compliance check.
- Buying the cheapest grade for retail and then wondering why it doesn’t sell.
- Skipping samples because the price looked good.
- Not planning for tariff changes. Build some margin for it.
New to all this? How to import rice from Thailand walks through the basics step by step. And if you’re curious how Thai rice compares with other Asian origins, read Thai rice vs Vietnamese rice.
Questions to Send Thai Long Grain White Rice Bulk Suppliers USA Buyers Are Comparing
Paste this list into your first email to any supplier. The answers, or the lack of them, will tell you a lot. Serious Thai long grain white rice bulk suppliers USA importers can rely on will answer every point without fuss.
- Do you mill the rice yourselves, or buy it from other mills?
- Which grade, and what’s the maximum broken percentage, moisture and chalky grain level?
- Is it fully colour sorted?
- What’s the crop year?
- Which bag sizes and bag types can you do, and can you print my brand?
- Can an independent surveyor I choose inspect at loading?
- Is your facility registered with the US FDA?
- Which documents come with every container?
- What’s the lead time from order to loading?
- Can you send pre shipment samples from my actual lot?
We answer all ten in our first offer. If a supplier dodges three or four of them, keep looking.
Why We’re Worth a Call
There are plenty of Thai long grain white rice bulk suppliers USA importers could call. What we offer is simple: rice milled in our own facility, written specifications, honest crop dates, independent inspection, pound or kilo packing, private label, and people who reply when something needs sorting out. We’d rather keep one importer for ten years than sell ten importers one container each.
Many of our US customers also buy Thai jasmine rice, Thai parboiled rice and basmati rice from us, so one supplier covers most of their range. If basmati is part of your plan, read basmati rice importers in the United States and extra long grain basmati rice wholesale.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are you one of the Thai long grain white rice bulk suppliers USA importers buy from directly?
Yes. We mill and export from Thailand and sell by the container to US importers, distributors, food service companies and manufacturers.
What grades do you offer?
5%, 10%, 15%, 25% and 100% broken, sortexed on request.
Can you pack in pounds?
Yes. 5 lb, 10 lb, 25 lb and 50 lb, plus kilo sizes and jumbo bags.
Can I mix grades in one container?
Yes.
Do you ship outside the US?
Yes. We export worldwide.
Can I get samples?
Yes. We courier samples so you can cook and test them.
Buy Thai Long Grain White Rice in Bulk
De Thai Products 1989 Company Limited mills and exports Thai long grain white rice, Thai Hom Mali, Thai jasmine, parboiled, glutinous and basmati rice, and ships worldwide. If you’re comparing Thai long grain white rice bulk suppliers USA wide, send us your spec. Our quality control page explains how each lot is checked.
Tell us the grade, bag sizes, brand, quantity and port, and we’ll send samples and a dated offer. Email info@dethairice.com, WhatsApp +66 81 034 6390, or use our contact page.
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