MV Rishabh Loads Ducat Maritime’s 300th Rice Shipment to West Africa

The vessel is conveying about 45,500 metric tonnes of white rice, of which 12,200 metric tonnes is bulk, and the remainder bagged, a statement from Ducat Maritime made available to Business Post revealed.

The logistics firm said this major operational milestone cements its role as a leading logistics partner in South-South trade and global food security.

The MV Rishabh loaded the rice at the Port of Ko Sichang in Thailand before transiting through the Singapore Strait and rounding the Cape of Good Hope. It will eventually dock at multiple West African ports, including Pointe Noire, and Douala, where discharge is scheduled through July and August.

In October 2024, the company announced it had transported more than 15 million metric tonnes of rice since it launched operations in 2016, much of it to West African nations. Earlier this year, DUCAT Maritime facilitated the first rice delivery to a Nigerian port in ten years — a pivotal event following Nigeria’s decision to reopen its borders to duty-free rice imports. The global rice trade has grown by nearly 47 per cent over the past decade.

DUCAT Maritime continues to expand its operations to meet demand across Africa, improving the reliability and sustainability of food logistics along critical trade corridors. Each voyage is not only a complex logistical endeavour, but a direct contribution to economic resilience and cross-regional cooperation.

“This milestone is a reflection of our team’s dedication and the importance of what we deliver,” the chief executive of Ducat Maritime, Mr Adrian Beciri, said.

“Moving rice at this scale between South Asia and Africa not only feeds people in the regional markets; it also means supporting local and international price stability, reinforcing food security, and building stronger ties between thriving, emerging economies,” he added.

“Our 300th charter is reflective of momentum and scale. As global supply chains face increasing pressure against the backdrop of trading tension between the US and China, we remain focused on the fundamentals: efficient delivery, cutting edge operations and planning, strategic connectivity, and unwavering commitment to the regions we serve,” Mr Beciri stated.