If you’re looking for a white rice supplier Saudi Arabia importers, caterers and wholesalers can depend on, this guide is for you. Saudi Arabia grows almost no rice of its own, so every grain on the market is imported, and the Saudi Food and Drug Authority checks shipments closely. That makes the choice of supplier matter more than in many markets. Below you’ll find what we sell, the specs, how pricing works, what Saudi buyers ask us for, and how to order.
We’re De Thai Products 1989 Company Limited, a rice miller and exporter in Thailand. We sell Thai long grain white rice in grades from 5% to 25% broken, sortexed rice, parboiled rice and jasmine rice to buyers around the world, including the Gulf. We pack in 5kg to 50kg bags, with Arabic labelling if you need it, and ship to Jeddah and Dammam with full documents.
Table of Contents
The Saudi Rice Market in Brief
Rice is part of daily life in Saudi Arabia. Kabsa, mandi and many other dishes are built around it, and restaurants, catering companies and families all buy in large amounts. Because water is scarce, there’s no commercial rice farming to speak of, so the market runs entirely on imports.
India is the biggest supplier, mostly of basmati. But basmati isn’t the only rice Saudi buyers need. Long grain white rice from Thailand and elsewhere is widely used by restaurants, catering firms, hospitals, labour camps, and by the large communities from Southeast Asia who prefer the softer texture of Thai rice. That’s where a white rice supplier Saudi Arabia buyers can trust comes in.
What We Sell
- Thai white rice 100% sortexed, clean and even, for retail packs and premium catering.
- White rice 5% broken, our main long grain grade.
- Thai white rice 10% broken, a good middle grade for food service.
- White rice 25% broken, for price-led catering contracts.
- Thai parboiled rice, for kitchens that cook large batches.
- Thai jasmine rice and Thai Hom Mali rice, for Asian grocery stores and restaurants.
Specifications
These are the specs a white rice supplier Saudi Arabia importers work with should be willing to put on a contract. Ours are checked by an independent inspector at loading.
White Rice 5% Broken
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Grain | Long grain, milled white rice |
| Broken grains | 5% maximum |
| Moisture | 14% maximum |
| Purity | 95% minimum |
| Foreign matter | 0.1% maximum |
| Damaged grains | 1% maximum |
| Crop | Current season |
Thai White Rice 100% Sortexed
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Grain | Long grain, colour-sorted |
| Broken ratio | 5%, 10%, 15% or 25%, as ordered |
| Moisture | 14% maximum |
| Foreign matter | 0.1% maximum |
| Colour | Uniform white |
White Rice 25% Broken
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Broken grains | 25% maximum |
| Moisture | 14% maximum |
| Foreign matter | 0.5% maximum |
| Damaged and discoloured grains | 2% maximum |
If your SFDA registration or your customers need a particular spec from their white rice supplier Saudi Arabia-side, send it to us and we’ll tell you honestly whether we can meet it.
Getting Through SFDA Inspection
The Saudi Food and Drug Authority checks imported food at the port. Inspectors review the documents, check that the goods match them, look at the shipment physically, and send samples to the lab when they want to. A consignment can be stopped at any of those stages. SFDA has publicly reported rejecting rice for problems with labelling and with chemical or physical specifications.
In practice, most rejections come down to things that should have been caught before loading. Wrong or missing Arabic labelling. Dates that don’t match the invoice. A spec on the bag that doesn’t match the lab result. A white rice supplier Saudi Arabia importers can rely on will help you get these right before the container leaves Thailand.
On the importer’s side, Saudi rules generally require a commercial registration for food importing, a food establishment licence from SFDA, product registration, and a conformity certificate for each shipment through the SABER platform. Customs clearance runs through the FASAH system. Requirements do change, so please confirm the current process with your clearing agent before you order.
Arabic Labelling
Prepackaged food in Saudi Arabia must be labelled in Arabic, or carry an Arabic translation, in line with Gulf labelling standards. For rice, that usually means the product name, net weight, country of origin, production and expiry dates, storage advice and the importer’s name and address. Many buyers print bilingual Arabic and English bags.
Send us your approved artwork and we’ll print it. If you’re unsure what to include, ask your clearing agent for a checklist and we’ll match the bag to it. As a white rice supplier Saudi Arabia buyers trust with their brand, we’d rather spend an extra day checking a label than see a container held at Jeddah.
Packing for Saudi Buyers
| Pack | Who usually buys it |
|---|---|
| 5kg and 10kg printed bags | Supermarkets, hypermarkets and grocery stores |
| 20kg and 25kg bags | Restaurants and smaller caterers |
| 40kg and 50kg bags | Large catering firms and wholesalers |
| Jumbo bags | Repackers and food factories |
As a white rice supplier Saudi Arabia retailers use, we offer bags that can be PP woven, BOPP laminated for shelf appeal, or lined for extra moisture protection. Private label is available. For more on building a supermarket brand, see rice supplier for supermarkets. If you mainly need 25kg sacks, our page on long grain white rice 25kg bag wholesale has more detail.
Who Buys White Rice in Saudi Arabia
- Importers and wholesalers who supply grocery stores and smaller retailers.
- Supermarket and hypermarket chains with their own labels.
- Catering companies serving hospitals, schools, companies and worker housing.
- Restaurants, especially Asian, Middle Eastern fusion and fast food.
- Seasonal caterers who feed large numbers of pilgrims during Hajj and Umrah.
- Food manufacturers making ready meals and rice-based products.
Each of these needs something different from a white rice supplier Saudi Arabia-side. Caterers want consistency in huge pots. Supermarkets want attractive packs and reliable dates. Manufacturers want the same grain behaviour from one lot to the next. Tell us who you supply and we’ll suggest the right grade.
Catering and Institutional Kitchens
Saudi catering is big business. Hospitals, schools, companies and accommodation camps cook rice every day for thousands of people, and during Hajj and Umrah seasons the volumes become enormous. These kitchens need rice that cooks evenly in large pots, holds its shape for hours and doesn’t turn sticky.
Thai long grain white rice does this well, and parboiled rice does it even better because the grain is firmer. Many catering firms buy both. As a white rice supplier Saudi Arabia catering companies use, we can load white and parboiled rice in the same container, in the same bag sizes, so your kitchens get one simple delivery. Read parboiled rice vs white rice to see which fits your menus.
Thai White Rice Compared With Basmati
Saudi buyers often ask how Thai white rice compares with basmati. They’re different products for different jobs. Basmati is extra long, aromatic in its own way, and stays very separate, which is why it’s the classic choice for kabsa. It also costs considerably more.
Thai long grain white rice is softer, with a mild, clean taste. It’s cheaper than basmati, cooks faster and works well for everyday meals, Asian dishes, fried rice and catering where budget matters. Many Saudi wholesalers stock both and let price and use decide. A white rice supplier Saudi Arabia wholesalers deal with doesn’t need to replace basmati. It needs to fill the gap basmati leaves. We also sell basmati rice if you’d like both from one source.
Price Guide
We quote in US dollars per metric ton. Thai white rice 5% broken has been trading roughly between 440 and 490 dollars a ton FOB in recent months, with 25% broken a little below that and sortexed grades slightly above. Prices move weekly with paddy prices and the Thai baht, so treat these as a guide only. The Thai Rice Exporters Association publishes weekly reference prices.
| Grade | Example FOB per ton | Per 50kg bag | Per 25kg bag |
|---|---|---|---|
| White rice 5% broken | 460 USD | about 23 USD | about 11.50 USD |
| White rice 25% broken | 430 USD | about 21.50 USD | about 10.75 USD |
Most buyers choosing a white rice supplier Saudi Arabia-side prefer CFR or CIF prices to Jeddah or Dammam. We can quote either. See Thai white rice 5% broken price per ton for more on pricing, and the ICC Incoterms rules for what each term covers.
Shipping to Jeddah and Dammam
As your white rice supplier Saudi Arabia-side, we load at Laem Chabang or Bangkok port. Sailings to Jeddah Islamic Port and King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam usually take around two to three weeks, depending on the route and any transshipment. A 20ft container carries about 25 metric tons of bagged rice. Weight limits mean 20ft boxes are normal for rice. See how many tons of rice fit in a 20ft container.
Any white rice supplier Saudi Arabia buyers use should plan for summer heat in the Gulf, which is intense, and containers can sit at port in high temperatures. We recommend lined bags or container liners for summer arrivals, and moving rice to cool storage as soon as it clears.
Documents We Provide
- Commercial invoice and packing list
- Bill of lading
- Certificate of origin
- Phytosanitary certificate
- Fumigation certificate
- Quality and weight certificate from an independent inspector
- Halal certificate on request
- Health certificate or lab analysis on request
We make sure the product name, weights and dates match across the invoice, packing list and bag, which is one of the main things SFDA checks. Full details are in rice export documents and halal certified rice supplier.
7 Proven Tips for Choosing a White Rice Supplier Saudi Arabia Importers Can Trust
- Check that the supplier mills the rice or controls the mill.
- Get your Arabic label approved by your clearing agent before bags are printed.
- Make sure names, weights and dates match exactly on the bag, invoice and packing list.
- Insist on independent inspection at loading and keep a sealed sample.
- Ask for a halal certificate if your customers or bank expect one.
- Use liners for summer shipments into the Gulf heat.
- Plan regular shipments ahead of Ramadan, Hajj and other peak seasons.
Serving Asian Communities in the Kingdom
Saudi Arabia is home to large communities from the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Bangladesh and other Asian countries. Many of them grew up eating softer long grain or fragrant rice, not basmati, and they look for it in grocery stores and restaurants. That demand has grown steadily, and it’s one of the main reasons importers come to a white rice supplier Saudi Arabia-side from Thailand.
For these customers, a mix of Thai white rice, jasmine rice and Hom Mali usually sells best. Smaller 5kg and 10kg bags suit families, while 25kg bags suit the many small restaurants and canteens that serve these communities. A mixed container lets you test which grades move fastest.
Private Label for Saudi Brands
Many Saudi importers and retailers sell rice under their own brand. It builds loyalty and protects margin. If that’s your plan, you’ll need a white rice supplier Saudi Arabia brands can trust to keep the rice exactly the same from one shipment to the next, because shoppers notice even small changes.
We pack private label in 5kg to 50kg bags with full Arabic and English printing. We’ll match the grade, bag and label to your registration and keep a record of every lot, so you can trace any bag back to its shipment. For more on building a brand, see private label Thai Hom Mali rice, which covers the same process for fragrant rice.
Comparing Offers Fairly
When you’re choosing a white rice supplier Saudi Arabia importers often compare four or five offers. They only make sense side by side if they quote the same thing. Check that each one gives the same broken percentage, moisture limit, crop year, bag size and type, Incoterm and port, inspection terms and validity date.
If one price is much lower, find out why before you get excited. It may be old crop, a looser spec, a cheaper bag or a different port. Sometimes it’s simply a supplier who doesn’t plan to stick around. A white rice supplier Saudi Arabia buyers keep for years usually isn’t the cheapest on any single day, but they deliver what they promise every time, and that’s worth more than a few dollars a ton.
Payment Terms
For a first order with a new white rice supplier Saudi Arabia buyers usually pay a 30% deposit by bank transfer and the balance against a copy of the bill of lading. Letters of credit at sight from recognised banks are also fine, and common with larger Saudi importers.
Planning Around Ramadan and Hajj
Rice demand in Saudi Arabia jumps before Ramadan, when families stock up and charity food programmes buy in bulk. It rises again around Hajj, when caterers feed huge numbers of pilgrims in a short time. If your rice isn’t in the warehouse before those peaks, you miss the sales.
Because the voyage takes two to three weeks, and inspection and clearance add more time, a white rice supplier Saudi Arabia importers rely on should be loading your peak-season containers well ahead. As a rough guide, we suggest loading in Thailand at least six to eight weeks before you need the rice on your shelves or in your kitchens. Printed bags add more time, so get artwork approved even earlier.
A Typical First Order
Most Saudi customers start with a single container to test us. A typical first order is 25 tons of white rice 5% broken in 50kg bags for catering, or a split of 5kg retail bags and 25kg food service bags. We send a dated offer and samples, the buyer cooks them in their own kitchen, and if they’re happy we agree the bag artwork and contract.
Before loading, we send draft documents to the buyer’s clearing agent so they can check every name, weight and date. That small step saves a lot of trouble at the port. It’s also one of the habits that separates a careful white rice supplier Saudi Arabia buyers keep using from one they try once.
Common Reasons Shipments Get Held
- Arabic label missing, incomplete or different from what was registered.
- Production or expiry dates on the bag that don’t match the documents.
- Net weight on the bag that doesn’t match the packing list.
- Lab results outside the declared spec, such as too much moisture.
- Missing conformity or registration steps on the importer’s side.
Most of these are paperwork problems, not rice problems. A white rice supplier Saudi Arabia-side customers can trust will check them with you before the ship sails.
Storage in the Gulf Climate
Saudi warehouses get very hot in summer. Rice handles heat better than many foods, but high temperatures still shorten its shelf life and can encourage insects. Keep rice in shaded, ventilated or cooled storage, on pallets and away from walls, and sell the oldest stock first.
For retail packs, clear production and expiry dates matter. Shoppers and inspectors check them. We print dates that match your documents exactly, which is one more thing a white rice supplier Saudi Arabia supermarkets work with needs to get right.
Building a Long-Term Supply
The importers and caterers who do best don’t buy one container at a time at whatever price is on offer that week. They pick a white rice supplier Saudi Arabia-side they trust, agree a yearly volume, and book regular containers with extra loads before Ramadan and Hajj. That keeps quality steady, labels consistent and SFDA clearance smooth, because each shipment looks like the last.
If you’d like to set up a plan like that, tell us your yearly volume, grades and peak months, and we’ll propose a schedule.
Why Buy From Our Mill
We mill, sort and pack the rice ourselves, so we can control what goes in your bags and change things on our own line when you need it. We keep a sealed reference sample from every shipment. And we’ve shipped to many Gulf and Middle East ports, so we understand the heat, the paperwork and the timing. You can read more about our grading on the rice standard page and about Thai long grain rice in Thai long grain rice vs American long grain rice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you ship to Jeddah and Dammam?
Yes. As a white rice supplier Saudi Arabia importers use regularly, we ship to both ports often.
Can you print Arabic labels?
Yes. Send your approved artwork and we’ll print it on the bags.
Do you provide halal certificates?
Yes, on request. Any white rice supplier Saudi Arabia buyers use should be able to arrange one.
Can I mix white rice and parboiled rice in one container?
Yes. Many caterers ask their white rice supplier Saudi Arabia-side to do exactly that.
How long does shipping take?
Usually around two to three weeks, depending on the route.
Talk to Us
If you need a white rice supplier Saudi Arabia importers and caterers can plan around, send us the grade, bag size, label details, quantity and port. We’ll send a dated offer and samples for cooking tests.
Not ready to order yet? Ask for samples anyway. Cook them in your own kitchen next to the rice you use now, and let your chefs or staff judge. It costs only a courier fee, and it tells you more than any spec sheet.
De Thai Products 1989 Company Limited. Email info@dethairice.com, WhatsApp +66 81 034 6390, or use our contact page. You can also read about our quality control.
One thought on “White Rice Supplier Saudi Arabia: Trusted Thai Mill Offer and 7 Proven Tips”