A week after concerns were raised about a hidden rice shipment, the Government of Liberia has confirmed that the first consignment of Chinese rice is on its way to Monrovia.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the shipment consists of 720 metric tons, about 14,400 bags of 25kg rice, and is scheduled to arrive at the Freeport of Monrovia on Saturday, September 20, 2025. The consignment represents the first of five batches making up a total of 3,600 metric tons of rice pledged by the People’s Republic of China. The remaining shipments are expected to arrive in October and November.
The rice grant stems from a bilateral agreement between President Joseph Nyuma Boakai and Chinese President Xi Jinping during the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) held in September 2024.
The Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee, chaired by the Minister of Commerce and Industry and co-chaired by the Liberia Rice Committee, will take charge of receiving and managing the rice. The government says this process will be conducted transparently to ensure the donation serves its intended purpose, supporting food security and stabilizing the local rice market.
Officials described the donation as a significant step in addressing Liberia’s food needs and strengthening cooperation between Monrovia and Beijing. In a statement, the government extended “profound gratitude” to China for what it called a timely and generous act of solidarity.
The rice grant was formalized through an Exchange of Notes signed between Chinese Ambassador Yin Chengwu and Liberia’s Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti.
