Warning issued to anyone buying rice from the supermarket

For so many people, rice is a dietary staple eaten multiple times a week. Whether that’s paired with curry, a protein source like prawns or chicken or packed into sushi, it’s versatile and delicious so it’s no wonder it’s so popular.

However, if you’re someone who often buys rice during the weekly shop, you may soon find it’s more expensive. Rice producers have warned that UK brands could face supply constraints and rising prices over the coming months if the Iran war continues. Despite the ongoing ceasefire, the conflict isn’t over yet, and it’s still having an impact on food production.

According to the Grocer, rice producers across Asia are already saying war-driven spikes in fuel and fertiliser prices are beginning to restrict future supplies of the grain, potentially leading to shortages or price hikes.

“Harvest-ready rice fields are lying idle, and farmers are deciding whether to skip planting for the coming season,” reported the South China Morning Post last week.

“Tens of millions of smallholders are struggling to find affordable crop nutrients as well as the diesel need to run tractors, irrigation pumps and rice planters.”

The Rice Association, representing the UK’s major rice brands, this week told The Grocer it was “closely monitoring the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the impact on rice availability”, though noted that global rice stocks were currently “relatively high”.

However, it warned the conflict “will add cost to rice production”. Southeast Asia is set to be the most affection region in the short time, because of its window for fertiliser application needed to produce rice in this part of the world.

Price hikes are already being experienced in Asia, according to Rice News Today. Prices are said to be ‘soaring’, as the Iran war fallout threatens supply of the popular grian.

Last week, it was also reported by the BBC that the UK could face other food shortages by summer, such as chicken and pork, if the Iran war continues.

Government officials drew up a ‘worst case scenario’ which would involve the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz and breakdowns in the supply of carbon dioxide, used in the slaughter of some animals and in food preservation.

A spokesperson from the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs said it would continue to work closely with businesses to tackle the impact of the war.

“Reasonable worst case scenarios are a planning tool used by experts and are not a prediction of future events”, they added.