If you are looking for a parboiled rice distributor, or you want to become one, the most important thing is where the rice comes from. We are a Thai rice exporter. We supply parboiled rice by the container to distributors, wholesalers, supermarkets and food companies, and we ship worldwide.
This guide is for buyers who want a steady, reliable supply of parboiled rice. It covers what a good parboiled rice distributor does, the grades and bags we sell, how ordering works, payment, documents, and how to pick a supplier you can trust.
Table of Contents
What Does a Parboiled Rice Distributor Do?
A parboiled rice distributor sits between the mill and the shops. They buy rice in bulk, usually by the container, store it, and sell it on in smaller lots to the people who sell it or cook it. A good parboiled rice distributor does a few things well:
- Keeps supply steady. Shops and caterers switch suppliers when the shelves run empty.
- Keeps the grade the same. If one shipment is 5% broken and the next is 15%, customers notice.
- Stores it properly. Dry, shaded warehouse, bags on pallets, oldest stock sold first.
- Offers the right bag sizes. 50kg and 25kg for the trade, 10kg, 5kg and 1kg for families and supermarkets.
- Knows the paperwork. Import permits, labelling and food registration in their own country.
The distributors who grow are the ones who buy from the source. Every middleman between the mill and your warehouse adds cost and takes away control over quality.
Who Buys From a Parboiled Rice Distributor?
Parboiled rice has a wide customer base. That is one reason it is a good line for a distributor. Typical buyers include:
- Supermarkets and grocery chains, mostly in 1kg to 10kg packs
- Market traders and smaller wholesalers, mostly in 25kg and 50kg bags
- Restaurants, hotels and caterers, who like that parboiled rice holds well after cooking
- Schools, hospitals, the army and other institutions buying on tender
- Food processors making ready meals, canned food and rice mixes
- Relief and aid buyers, because parboiled rice stores well
Parboiled rice cooks firm and separate, stays good for hours after cooking, and breaks less in handling. For the full picture, see our comparison of parboiled rice vs white rice and our guide to parboiled rice health benefits.
Buying From a Local Distributor vs Direct From Thailand
Smaller buyers often start by buying from a local parboiled rice distributor. Once you are moving a container or more, buying direct from the exporter usually makes more sense.
| Local distributor | Direct from Thai exporter | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Includes the distributor’s margin | Mill-gate price plus freight |
| Quantity | Any amount, even a few bags | Usually from one 20ft container |
| Grade control | You take what they have | You choose the spec in the contract |
| Branding | Their brand | Your own private label bags |
| Inspection | Rarely | Independent inspection at loading |
| Lead time | Off the shelf | Several weeks plus the voyage |
If you want to become a parboiled rice distributor in your own market, buying direct is what gives you room to compete on price and build your own brand.
Our Parboiled Rice Grades for Distributors
We sell Thai long grain parboiled rice in four grades. All are soaked and steamed in the husk, then milled, polished and sorted.
| Grade | Broken | Moisture | Sorting | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parboiled 5% broken | 5% max | 14% max | 100% sortexed | Supermarkets, branded retail packs |
| Parboiled 15% broken | 15% max | 14% max | Sortexed | Wholesalers, caterers |
| Parboiled 25% broken | 25% max | 14% max | Sortexed | Price-driven markets, institutions |
| Parboiled 100% broken | All broken | 14% max | Cleaned | Processing, feed, brewing |
Most distributors carry two grades: 5% broken for the shelf and 15% or 25% broken for the open market. If you are not sure which fits your customers, send us a photo of what is selling in your area and we will match it. For a closer look at the top grade, read about Thai parboiled rice 5% broken, 100% sortexed. Some markets prefer a deeper or lighter colour, so also see golden sella vs white sella parboiled rice.
Bag Sizes and Private Label
For a parboiled rice distributor, the bag is the brand. Customers remember the name and the design, and they come back for it.
| Bag | Who buys it |
|---|---|
| 50kg PP woven, printed | Market traders and wholesalers |
| 25kg PP woven, printed | Smaller traders, caterers, restaurants |
| 10kg and 5kg printed PP or laminated | Supermarkets and families |
| 1kg and 2kg retail packs | Supermarkets and convenience shops |
We print private label bags with your brand, and we can add inner liners for long voyages. Before you print, check your country’s labelling rules. Many countries ask for importer details, net weight, origin and a food registration number on the bag. Send us your artwork and we will send a proof before anything is printed.
We Ship Worldwide
We supply parboiled rice distributors in Africa, the Middle East, Europe, the Americas and Asia. We quote FOB Thailand if you arrange your own freight, or CFR and CIF to your nearest port.
Transit time depends on the route. Nearby Asian ports can be a week or two, while Africa, Europe and the Americas are usually several weeks at sea. Add one to two weeks for booking and loading at our end. Freight rates move often, so we confirm the freight part of a CFR or CIF price when we book. If you are new to these terms, the ICC Incoterms page explains them.
If you are buying for West Africa, our guide to parboiled rice import to West Africa covers ports, bags and paperwork in detail.
Order Size and Container Loads
Most first orders are one 20ft container. A 20ft container holds around 25 metric tons of rice in 25kg or 50kg bags. Larger distributors move to several containers a month, or 40ft containers. See how many tons of rice fit in a 20ft container for the details.
Our advice to any new parboiled rice distributor: start with one or two containers, see how the rice sells, then build up. A mixed container with two grades is a good way to test your market.
How to Order: Step by Step
- Check your import rules. Talk to a licensed clearing agent about permits, duties, labelling and food registration.
- Ask for a quote. Send us grade, tons, bag size, destination port and FOB, CFR or CIF.
- Test samples. We send samples from the real stock we would load. Cook them the way your customers do.
- Sign the contract. Spec, price, bags, inspection, documents, payment and shipping window, all in writing.
- Arrange payment. Letter of credit or deposit, as agreed.
- Bags and production. We print your bags, and the mill processes and packs your lot.
- Inspection and loading. An independent inspector checks quality and weight, and watches the loading.
- Documents. We send copies right away, and the originals by courier or through the bank.
For the full process, read how to import rice from Thailand.
Documents
Every shipment comes with the standard export set: commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin, phytosanitary certificate, fumigation certificate, and a quality and weight certificate from an independent inspection company. If your country needs anything else, tell us before loading and we will arrange it. Our rice export documents checklist explains each paper.
Payment Terms
- Letter of credit. Irrevocable, from a bank we both accept. The safest option for larger orders.
- Deposit and balance. A deposit by bank transfer, with the balance paid against scanned documents before we release the originals.
- Repeat buyers. Terms can be adjusted once we have done a few shipments together.
We do not ship on open credit to new buyers. You should not pay 100% up front to a supplier you have never dealt with, either. A clear contract with an inspection clause protects both sides.
What Sets the Price
The price a parboiled rice distributor pays depends on:
- Paddy prices in Thailand at the time of order
- The baht against the US dollar
- Grade and broken level
- Bag type and printing
- Freight and insurance to your port
- Volume and how regularly you order
Duties, port charges, clearing and trucking at your end come on top. Work out your full landed cost before you set your selling price. For an example of how we price, see Thai parboiled rice 25% broken price per ton.
How to Choose a Parboiled Rice Supplier
Whether you buy from us or someone else, check these before you send money:
- Company documents. A registered export company, with an address you can verify.
- Real samples. From the stock that will be loaded, not a special batch.
- A written spec. Broken, moisture, sorting, colour and crop year in the contract.
- Independent inspection. At loading, by a known inspection company.
- Safe payment. Letter of credit or payment against documents.
- Clear answers. A supplier who tells you when a price or date is not possible is worth more than one who says yes to everything.
Be careful with offers that are far below the market, suppliers who only want full payment in advance, and anyone who cannot send a sample.
Tips for Growing as a Parboiled Rice Distributor
- Build one strong brand. Keep the bag design the same from order to order.
- Never run out. Order your next container before the current one is half sold.
- Plan for busy seasons. Demand climbs before holidays and festivals, and freight space gets tight. Order two to three months ahead.
- Sell to caterers and institutions. They buy every week and in volume.
- Store it right. Bags on pallets, off the floor, away from walls, in a dry and shaded warehouse.
- Add a second line. Many of our parboiled customers also carry Thai white rice 5% broken or Thai jasmine rice.
Why Distributors Work With Us
- Parboiled rice is one of our core lines, not a side product.
- We ship to buyers worldwide, by 20ft and 40ft container.
- We put the spec in writing and let an independent inspector check it.
- We send samples from real stock.
- We print private label bags in all the common sizes.
- We reply fast on WhatsApp and email.
Read more about us, see our quality control steps, or check the rice standard we grade to.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are you a parboiled rice distributor or an exporter?
We are an exporter based in Thailand. We sell by the container to distributors, wholesalers and food companies, who then supply shops and caterers in their own markets.
What is the minimum order?
Most orders start at one 20ft container, which holds around 25 metric tons.
Can I become a parboiled rice distributor with my own brand?
Yes. We print private label bags with your brand in 1kg to 50kg sizes. Send us your artwork and label details.
Do you ship to my country?
We ship worldwide. Tell us your nearest port and we will quote CFR or CIF, or FOB Thailand if you have your own freight.
Can I get a sample first?
Yes. We send samples by courier from the stock we would load for you.
Which grade sells best?
5% broken for supermarkets and branded packs. 15% and 25% broken for the open market and institutions. It depends on your market, so test before you commit.
Become a Parboiled Rice Distributor With Us
Send us the grade, tons, bag size, destination port, and whether you want FOB, CFR or CIF. We will reply with a quote, spec sheet and sample offer, usually within a day.
Email info@dethairice.com, WhatsApp +66 81 034 6390, or use our contact page. You can also browse all our products or read our FAQ.
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