Broken Rice Grading Explained: From 5% to 100% Broken for Industrial and Food Use
Broken rice is one of the most misunderstood commodity categories in agricultural trade. Many buyers treat it as a byproduct — lesser rice for discount markets. That framing is commercially naive. Broken rice at various grading levels is a purpose-built raw material for a diverse range of food and industrial applications, priced and specified accordingly, and in some applications it actually outperforms whole-grain rice as a functional ingredient.
Understanding broken rice grades — what they are, how they are produced, what they cost, and where each grade fits in the supply chain — is essential knowledge for importers, food manufacturers, and distributors who want to extract full value from the rice supply chain.
How Broken Rice Is Produced and Classified
Broken rice originates during the milling process. When paddy (rough rice) passes through the dehusking and whitening equipment, mechanical friction and pressure causes some grains to fracture. Additional breakage occurs during polishing, sorting, and bagging. The proportion of broken grains in the finished product depends on:
- Paddy grain quality: Fissured, stress-cracked, or immature grains break more easily
- Milling equipment condition: Worn rollers and milling stones increase breakage
- Moisture content at milling: Too-dry grain (< 12%) is brittle; too-wet grain (> 15%) degrades differently
- Milling speed and throughput: Higher throughput rates increase mechanical stress
During milling, broken rice is separated from head rice (whole grains) using vibrating screens with calibrated apertures. Different screen sizes sort broken fragments into commercial grades.
Broken Rice Grade Classification
Thai Standard Classification
Thailand's rice export grading system classifies broken rice based on size fractions:
| Grade | Fragment Size | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Head rice (whole grain) | > 8/10 of original grain length | Minimal breakage (sold as 5% broken, 25% broken, etc.) |
| 1st Quality Large Broken | 5/10 – 8/10 of grain length | Mid-size fragments; premium broken grade |
| 1st Quality Small Broken | 3.5/10 – 5/10 of grain length | Smaller fragments |
| 2nd Quality Broken (Brokens/Brisures) | 1.5/10 – 3.5/10 of grain length | Small fragments |
| Brewers (Nib) | < 1.5/10 of grain length | Very fine fragments; industrial grade |
| Flour / Fines | Dust-level fragments | Industrial flour processing |
Commercial Grade Terminology for Buyers
In international trade, buyers typically specify by the percentage of broken grains in a blended product:
| Grade | Broken Content | Common Application |
|---|---|---|
| 5% broken | Max 5% by weight broken fragments | Premium food retail, food service |
| 10% broken | Max 10% | Mid-grade retail, institutional |
| 25% broken | Max 25% | Africa retail, institutional food programs |
| 35% broken | Max 35% | Price-sensitive food market |
| 50% broken | Max 50% | Industrial food, animal feed transition |
| 100% broken (brokens/brisures) | Entirely broken fragments | Beer brewing, rice flour, snack manufacturing, animal feed |
| Brewers | Fine nib only | Specialty brewing, starch production |
Applications and Procurement Logic by Grade
5% Broken
Applications: Premium food retail, food service, hotel supply chains, UN/WFP food aid programs, export to markets with quality requirements (EU, USA, Japan, Middle East premium)
Why buyers specify this grade:
- Whole-grain appearance supports retail premium pricing
- WFP and NGO institutional programs specify max 5% broken
- Japanese and Korean consumer markets demand near-zero breakage
Price: $490–$560/MT FOB Thailand (long-grain white, current range)
25% Broken
Applications: West African retail (preferred grade in Senegal, Ivory Coast, Ghana), price-sensitive institutional, blending feedstock
Why buyers specify this grade:
- Cultural preference in West Africa for slightly broken texture (faster cooking, softer mouthfeel)
- Price competitive vs. premium grade ($80–$100/MT cheaper)
- Sufficient quality for institutional catering where visual uniformity is not critical
Price: $390–$450/MT FOB Thailand
100% Broken (Brokens / Brisures)
This is where industrial procurement becomes genuinely interesting. 100% broken rice — consisting entirely of grain fragments with no whole grains — is a distinct commodity with specific industrial buyers who need it and pay accordingly.
Applications for 100% broken rice:
| Industry | Application | Why 100% Broken? |
|---|---|---|
| Beer / brewing | Adjunct grain for beer production | Cheaper than malt; gelatinizes easily; adds fermentable sugars |
| Rice flour manufacturing | Milling to produce rice flour (fine, medium, coarse) | Broken rice grinds more efficiently; lower energy per ton of flour |
| Rice starch production | Extracting pure rice starch for food and industrial use | More accessible starch; lower processing energy |
| Extruded snack manufacturing | Ingredient in rice crisps, puffed rice, rice crackers | Consistent starch profile, processes well in extruders |
| Baby food manufacturing | Base for infant rice cereal | Bland flavor, digestible, appropriate starch profile |
| Animal feed (poultry, fish) | High-energy carbohydrate component | More cost-effective than whole grain; acceptable digestibility |
| Bioethanol production | Fermentation feedstock | High starch content, low cost vs. sugar and corn in some markets |
| Paper industry | Starch sizing agent (via starch extraction) | Specialty industrial application |
Price: $280–$360/MT FOB Thailand (reflecting byproduct pricing relative to head rice)
Brewers Rice (Nib Grade)
The finest broken fraction — particles less than 1.5/10 of original grain length. Almost exclusively used by the brewing industry as a cost-effective adjunct grain. Major Asian and international breweries use Thai brewers rice in their beer formulations (typically 20–30% adjunct ratio in lager production).
Specifications brewers typically require:
- Moisture: Max 14.0%
- Starch content: Min 88% (dry weight basis)
- Foreign material: Max 0.2%
- Protein: Max 8% (low protein is desirable for clean beer flavor)
- Fat: Max 0.5%
Price: $260–$330/MT FOB Thailand
Specification Table: 100% Broken Rice for Industrial Buyers
| Parameter | Food-Grade | Feed-Grade | Brewing Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moisture | Max 14.0% | Max 14.5% | Max 14.0% |
| Broken fragments only | 100% | 100% | 100% (nib size) |
| Foreign material | Max 0.3% | Max 0.5% | Max 0.2% |
| Starch content | Min 86% | Min 80% | Min 88% |
| Protein | Max 9% | Max 10% | Max 8% |
| Aflatoxin B1 | < 10 ppb | < 20 ppb | < 5 ppb |
| Mold | Negative (visual) | Low — no visible mold | Negative |
| Pesticide residues | Codex MRL | FAO guidelines | Brewing industry spec |
Pricing Relationships Across Grades
The price spread between grades is not fixed — it varies with market conditions, harvest cycles, and demand concentration. However, structural relationships are consistent:
| Grade vs. 5% Broken Head Rice | Typical Discount |
|---|---|
| 25% broken | 15–20% discount |
| 35% broken | 25–30% discount |
| 100% broken (food) | 35–45% discount |
| Brewers nib | 40–50% discount |
Procurement Considerations for Industrial Buyers
Volume Minimums
Industrial buyers (beer brewers, flour mills, snack manufacturers) typically source larger volumes than retail importers. Minimum order quantities from Thai exporters for broken rice grades:
- 25% broken standard: 25 MT (1 × 20-ft container) minimum
- 100% broken: 50 MT minimum (economics favor larger volumes)
- Brewers nib: 50–100 MT minimum; availability varies by mill
Supply Consistency
100% broken and brewers rice are byproducts — their availability depends on the volume of head rice milling at partner mills. For industrial buyers needing consistent monthly supply, an annual supply agreement with a primary Thai exporter providing priority access to byproduct streams is important. Ad-hoc spot buying for brewers rice in particular can result in supply gaps during peak milling seasons when the byproduct volume is absorbed by existing buyer programs.
Packaging for Industrial Use
- 50 kg PP woven bags: Standard for most markets
- Jumbo bags (1,000 kg FIBC): Cost-efficient for industrial buyers with bulk receiving facilities
- Bulk (loose) in container or vessel: Available for breweries and starch processors with bulk receiving infrastructure; eliminates packaging cost entirely
How MC International Supplies Broken Rice Grades
MC International S.P.A Co., Ltd exports Thai broken rice grades from 5% through 100% broken, with brewers-grade available by volume arrangement. Our industrial buyer programs cover beer brewing adjuncts, rice flour feedstock, and animal feed grade in 50 kg bags, jumbo bags, and bulk container formats.
SGS inspection covers weight and quality for all broken rice grades, with starch content and aflatoxin testing available for food-manufacturing and brewing applications. We supply to breweries, snack manufacturers, baby food producers, and animal feed compounders across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
Request Industrial Broken Rice Specifications and Pricing
Tell us your application, volume, and specification requirements. We respond within 24 hours.
Email: sales@mcispcoltd.com
WhatsApp: +66 99 437 2193
MC International S.P.A Co., Ltd — SGS Inspected | ISO 9001 | HACCP | All Broken Rice Grades | 10+ Years | Laem Chabang, Thailand