If you import rice into Lagos, Cotonou, Lomé, Tema, Abidjan, Dakar or Conakry, you already know the hard part isn’t finding rice. It’s finding a Thai rice supplier West Africa buyers can actually rely on, one who loads the grade on the contract, gets the bags right and has the papers ready before the ship sails. We’re DThai Company Limited, a rice exporter in Bangkok, and we sell Thai parboiled rice, long-grain white rice and jasmine rice to importers and wholesalers across the region. This guide is written from the seller’s side of the table. It covers what each West African market buys, the specs we ship, how the bags should look, what a container costs to land and how to place a first order with us.
Table of Contents
Why West African Importers Keep Buying Thai Rice
West Africa eats a lot of rice and grows nowhere near enough of it. Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal are the three biggest importers on the continent, and Ghana, Benin, Guinea, Togo, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Mali and Burkina Faso all buy steadily too. Local production is growing, and some governments push local rice hard, but the gap between what is grown and what is eaten is still filled by ships.
India, Vietnam, Pakistan and Thailand fight for that trade. India is usually cheapest. So why does anyone pay more for a Thai rice supplier West Africa side? In our experience it comes down to three things.
- Consistency. Thai mills are mostly sortexed and well run, so the grain in bag one looks like the grain in bag five hundred.
- Parboiled quality. Thai parboiled rice has a clean, bright golden color and firm grains that don’t break up in a long-cooked stew. Nigerian and Beninese cooks notice the difference.
- Paperwork. Thai phytosanitary certificates, fumigation certificates and certificates of origin are accepted everywhere in the region, and Thai inspectors know what West African customs want to see.
Price still matters to any Thai rice supplier West Africa buyer, and we’ll get to it. But a cheap container that arrives with 12% broken instead of 5%, or with torn bags, isn’t cheap anymore.
Which Rice Each West African Market Buys
West Africa isn’t one market. Every country has its own taste, and a good Thai rice supplier West Africa importers stick with will ask you about your end customer before quoting. Here’s what we see.
Nigeria
Nigeria is the biggest rice market in the region and it wants parboiled rice, long grain, 5% broken, golden color, and it wants it in 50kg bags. Import rules and duties in Nigeria change often and can be steep, which is why a lot of Thai parboiled rice has historically entered through Cotonou in Benin. More Nigerian buyers now import directly, and we’re happy to ship to Lagos (Apapa or Tin Can Island) or Onne when the importer holds the right permits.
Benin and Togo
Cotonou and Lomé are trading hubs as much as consumer markets. Buyers there take Thai parboiled rice in large volumes, plus white rice and some jasmine for the hotel and restaurant trade. When you pick a Thai rice supplier West Africa hubs like these depend on, bag branding matters a lot, because the rice is resold many times before it reaches a kitchen.
Ghana
Ghana is the jasmine market of West Africa. Fragrant rice, especially Thai Hom Mali and Thai fragrant rice, sells well in Accra and Kumasi. For a Thai rice supplier West Africa jasmine buyers like, Ghana is the place to start. There’s also good demand for 5% long-grain white rice and some parboiled. Ghanaian consumers are brand loyal, so private label and consistent bag design pay off.
Côte d’Ivoire
Ivorian buyers mostly take white rice, from 5% up to 25% broken, with a smaller premium segment for fragrant rice. Abidjan is a big, well-organized port and the trade there is professional and price-driven. An Ivorian buyer will compare every Thai rice supplier West Africa offer on price per ton landed, and nothing else.
Senegal, Guinea and Mali
Senegal is famous for eating broken rice. The national dish, thieboudienne, is traditionally made with it, so 100% broken (often called A1 Super) and 25% broken sell in big volumes. Thailand holds a solid share there. Guinea buys a mix of white and parboiled. Mali is landlocked, so its rice usually comes in through Dakar or Abidjan and travels inland by truck, which makes strong bags essential.
Liberia and Sierra Leone
Both buy mostly long-grain white and parboiled rice, often in 25kg and 50kg bags, with price as the main driver. Monrovia and Freetown are smaller ports, so as a Thai rice supplier West Africa smaller ports also rely on, we plan sailings with a little more care.
The Rice We Supply to West Africa
Here is what we load for buyers looking for a Thai rice supplier West Africa wide. All of it is milled in Thailand, sortex-cleaned and from the current crop unless you ask otherwise. As your Thai rice supplier West Africa end to end, we’ll quote any of these on FOB, CFR or CIF terms.
- Thai parboiled rice, 5% broken, also 10% and 25%
- Thai white rice, 5%, 10%, 15% and 25% broken
- Long-grain white rice, non-aromatic
- Thai Hom Mali jasmine rice, Premium Grade A
- Thai fragrant rice, a lower-cost aromatic option
- 100% broken rice (A1 Super), on request for Senegal and other broken-rice markets
Specifications We Ship
These are the standard export specs we ship as a Thai rice supplier West Africa importers already buy from. The contract for your order will state the exact figures, and the inspection certificate will confirm them.
| Parameter | Thai Parboiled 5% | Thai White 5% | Thai Hom Mali Jasmine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grain type | Long grain, parboiled | Long grain, white | Long grain, aromatic |
| Broken grains | 5% max | 5% max | 5% max |
| Moisture | 13% max | 14% max | 14% max |
| Admixture | 0.2% max | 0.2% max | 0.2% max |
| Milling | Well milled, sortexed | Double polished, sortexed | Double polished, sortexed |
| Average grain length | 6.0 to 7.0 mm | 6.0 to 7.0 mm | 6.8 to 7.2 mm |
| Color | Light amber to golden | Natural white | Natural white |
| Crop | Current crop | Current crop | New crop |
| Shelf life | 18 to 24 months | 12 to 18 months | 12 to 18 months |
For buyers who want a lower price point, the same white and parboiled rice is available at 10%, 15% and 25% broken. In Senegal and Mali, 25% and 100% broken is often the better fit, not a downgrade. Tell us how your customers cook and we’ll tell you the grade we’d buy in your place.
Packing That Survives the Trip
A container from Laem Chabang to West Africa spends four to six weeks at sea and then often gets unloaded by hand, stacked in a hot warehouse and moved by truck. Bags take a beating. We’ve seen what happens when a Thai rice supplier West Africa buyers tried once saves a few cents on the bag. Any Thai rice supplier West Africa importers trust has to get the packing right, and it’s one of the first things we discuss with a new customer.
- 50kg PP woven bags are the standard for Nigeria, Benin and most wholesale trade.
- 25kg PP bags suit Ghana, Liberia and retail-focused distributors.
- 5kg and 10kg bags work for supermarket lines and premium jasmine rice.
- PP bags with an inner PE liner are worth the small extra cost on long routes. They keep moisture out.
- 1,000kg jumbo bags are an option for buyers who repack locally.
We print your brand, your importer details and the language your market wants, whether that’s English, French or both. Many of our customers in Cotonou, Lomé and Abidjan sell under their own label, and we’ve written a separate guide on private label rice if you’re thinking of launching one. For more on bag choices, see our post on rice packaging for export.
Container Loads and Transit Times
A 20ft container takes about 25 metric tons of rice in 50kg bags, which is 500 bags. A 40ft container is usually loaded at around 26 to 27 metric tons because of road weight limits, not space. Our post on how many tons of rice fit in a 20ft container goes through the math.
| Destination port | Country | Typical transit from Laem Chabang |
|---|---|---|
| Apapa / Tin Can Island | Nigeria | 35 to 45 days |
| Cotonou | Benin | 35 to 45 days |
| Lomé | Togo | 30 to 40 days |
| Tema | Ghana | 30 to 40 days |
| Abidjan | Côte d’Ivoire | 30 to 40 days |
| Dakar | Senegal | 35 to 45 days |
| Conakry | Guinea | 35 to 45 days |
| Monrovia / Freetown | Liberia / Sierra Leone | 35 to 50 days |
Most of our Thai rice supplier West Africa routes tranship in Singapore, Port Klang, Colombo or a Mediterranean hub. Times depend on the shipping line and the season, so we always give you the actual sailing schedule with your quote. More detail on routes is on our worldwide shipping page.
What Rice Costs to Land in West Africa
Rice prices move every week, so we won’t print a fixed number here and pretend it holds for months. What we can do is show you how the landed cost is built, so you can compare quotes from any Thai rice supplier West Africa wide on the same basis.
- The FOB price in Thailand. This depends on the grade and broken percentage, the crop, and the Thai baht against the dollar. A stronger baht makes Thai rice dearer for you.
- Ocean freight to your port. Freight to West Africa is higher than to Asia or the Middle East, and it swings with fuel prices and space on the ships.
- Insurance. Usually a small percentage of the cargo value if you buy CIF.
- Inspection and fumigation. A few dollars per ton.
- Import duty and local taxes. ECOWAS countries share a common external tariff, but each country adds its own levies, and Nigeria in particular can change its rice policy at short notice.
- Port charges, clearing and inland transport.
During 2026, Thai 5% white rice has traded at some of its lowest levels in years because of heavy supply from India and the rest of Asia. That’s good news for West African buyers. Parboiled usually sits a little above white, and Hom Mali sits well above both. Send us your port and grade and we’ll quote you CFR or CIF the same day. If you’re new to Incoterms, our guide to FOB vs CIF for rice import explains who pays what. For a broader look at grades and pricing, read our wholesale rice pricing guide.
Documents for West African Customs
Paperwork is where good shipments go wrong, and it’s where a careless Thai rice supplier West Africa importers trusted can cost them the most. A missing stamp can leave a container sitting in Apapa for weeks while demurrage runs. As a Thai rice supplier West Africa customers come back to, we prepare the documents before the ship leaves, not after.
- Commercial invoice and packing list
- Full set of original bills of lading
- Phytosanitary certificate from the Thai Department of Agriculture
- Fumigation certificate
- Certificate of origin, general or preferential, as your country requires
- Certificate of quality, weight and packing from SGS or another inspector you choose
- Non-GMO and health certificates when asked
- Halal certificate when asked, which some buyers in Senegal, Guinea and northern Nigeria want for their customers
Several West African countries also need pre-arrival documents or a destination inspection certificate, and some ask for the importer’s registration number to be shown on the bags. Tell us early and we’ll handle it at loading. We’ve put the full list in our guide to bulk rice import documentation.
A Thai Rice Supplier West Africa Checklist by Country
Before you sign with any Thai rice supplier West Africa wide, run through this short list for your own market. It’s the same list we go through with every new customer.
- Nigeria: confirm your import permit and the current rice duty, and decide between a direct port or Cotonou. Ask your Thai rice supplier West Africa contact to print your registration number on the bags if your agent needs it.
- Benin and Togo: decide on 50kg bags and brand print early, because the rice will be resold many times.
- Ghana: check that your jasmine is real Hom Mali or Thai fragrant, and agree the aroma standard in the contract.
- Côte d’Ivoire: fix the broken percentage and compare landed cost per ton, not FOB.
- Senegal and Mali: ask for 25% or 100% broken and strong bags for the truck trip inland.
- Liberia and Sierra Leone: confirm the shipping line calls your port and plan for longer transit.
A Thai rice supplier West Africa importers can count on will help you with every line of this list without being asked twice.
Payment Terms
Most importers who use us as their Thai rice supplier West Africa side buy on one of these terms:
- Irrevocable letter of credit at sight, confirmed if needed. This is the safest for both sides on a first order.
- Telegraphic transfer, with a deposit of 30% on contract and the balance against a copy of the bill of lading.
- Cash against documents through banks, for established customers.
We don’t ask you to pay 100% up front to an unknown account, and you shouldn’t agree to that with anyone. A real Thai rice supplier West Africa buyers can check will have a registered company, a physical office and a phone that gets answered. Ours is in Khlong Toei, Bangkok.
How to Check a Thai Rice Supplier Before You Pay
Rice scams aimed at West African buyers are common, and a fake Thai rice supplier West Africa buyers can’t trace is the classic version. Fake websites copy real company names, quote prices far below the market and vanish once the deposit lands. Here’s what we’d check if we were in your shoes.
- Ask for the company registration. Thai exporters must be registered with the Department of Foreign Trade, and most are members of the Thai Rice Exporters Association.
- Video call the office or, better, the mill.
- Ask for a sample by courier before signing.
- Insist on independent inspection at loading by SGS, Bureau Veritas, Intertek or a surveyor you pick.
- Use an LC or a deposit with the balance against documents.
- Be careful if the price is way under the market. Nobody sells rice at a loss for long.
We’re open to all of this. You can see who we are on our about us page and why our customers stay on our why choose us page.
Getting the Most From Your Thai Rice Supplier
A few habits make life easier for importers who work with a Thai rice supplier West Africa wide, and they come from watching our own customers.
Book ahead of the festive and Ramadan seasons
Rice demand jumps before Ramadan, Tabaski, Christmas and New Year. Ships fill up and freight rises at the same time. Order six to eight weeks earlier than you think you need to.
Mix grades in one container
A 20ft container doesn’t have to be one product. Many of our Ghana and Togo customers split a box between parboiled, white and jasmine rice, or add some white sugar or sunflower oil to the same shipment.
Fix a standing contract
If you move several containers a month, a fixed contract with set grades, volumes and a price formula saves you from chasing quotes every week. Our supply contracts page explains how that works.
Store it properly when it lands
Rice in a hot, damp warehouse on bare concrete will pick up moisture and insects. Use pallets, keep walls dry, rotate stock first in first out, and fumigate if it sits for months.
Parboiled vs White vs Jasmine for West African Buyers
If you’re deciding what to stock, this is how we’d explain it to a new customer of our Thai rice supplier West Africa service.
Parboiled rice is soaked, steamed and dried before milling. It cooks firm and separate, holds up in jollof and in long-simmered stews, and keeps longer in warehouses. It’s the safe bet for Nigeria and Benin. More on it in our parboiled rice supplier guide.
White rice is the everyday grade. It cooks softer and quicker, and buyers pick the broken percentage to match their price point. Our long-grain white rice supplier guide covers the specs in depth.
Jasmine rice is the premium choice, with a natural aroma and soft texture. It sells in Ghana, in big city supermarkets and to hotels. If aroma is your selling point, read our piece on spotting genuine Hom Mali rice, because blended jasmine is a real problem in the trade. You can also compare it with long-grain white rice in our side-by-side guide.
Why Buyers Choose DThai as Their Thai Rice Supplier West Africa Wide
We aren’t the biggest exporter in Thailand. We’re a focused one. That’s useful for buyers who want someone to pick up the phone.
- We work with a short list of approved mills and know the source of every lot.
- Every container is inspected before loading, by SGS or the surveyor you name.
- We print bags in English, French or both, under your brand or ours.
- Documents are checked against your country’s rules before the ship sails.
- We take trial orders of one container and grow with you from there.
- We answer on WhatsApp, in your time zone, during the hours you’re actually working.
For a full picture of how importing from Thailand works, our guide on how to import rice from Thailand walks through every step. The Thai Rice Exporters Association publishes weekly reference prices, and the ECOWAS Commission sets the common external tariff that applies across most of the region.
How to Order From Us
- Send us your grade, broken percentage, bag size, quantity and destination port. That’s all any Thai rice supplier West Africa buyers deal with should need to quote.
- We reply with a spec sheet and a CFR or CIF quote, usually the same day.
- We courier a sample if you’d like one.
- We agree the contract, payment terms and the inspection company.
- We mill, pack, inspect, load and send you the documents.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a Thai rice supplier West Africa importers use normally ship?
Mostly parboiled rice and long-grain white rice in 5% to 25% broken, plus jasmine and fragrant rice for premium buyers and 100% broken for Senegal.
What is the minimum order?
One 20ft container, about 25 metric tons. You can mix two or three grades in it.
Do you ship to Lagos directly?
Yes, to Apapa, Tin Can Island and Onne, as long as the importer has the right permits for Nigeria’s current rice rules. Many buyers still prefer Cotonou.
Can you print bags in French?
Yes. We print in English, French, Arabic or any mix, with your brand and importer details.
How long does shipping take?
Usually 30 to 45 days from Laem Chabang to most West African ports, depending on the line and transhipment.
Which payment terms do you accept?
LC at sight, or a deposit by bank transfer with the balance against a copy of the bill of lading. Established customers can move to CAD.
Can I get a halal certificate?
Yes. Rice itself is halal, and we can provide a halal certificate for your lot when your buyers ask for one. Our guide for buyers looking for a halal certified rice supplier explains the paperwork.
Why use a Thai rice supplier West Africa buyers recommend rather than the cheapest offer?
Because the cheapest offer often turns into the most expensive container once you count broken grains, torn bags or missing papers.
Choosing the right Thai rice supplier West Africa routes is about trust as much as price. You want the grade you paid for, bags that arrive whole and papers that clear customs the first time. That’s what we sell. Contact us with your grade, bag size and port, and we’ll send a quote and a sample.