Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính has called for “rapid and decisive” action to seize opportunities in rice exports—particularly for high-quality and organic rice—while strengthening traceability systems and developing a national rice brand to enhance value-added and global competitiveness.
Vietnam Rises to Second Place in Global Rice Exports
Table of Contents
In the first seven months of 2025, Vietnam exported 5.5 million tons of rice, earning USD 2.81 billion.
According to a recent report by the Thai Rice Exporters Association, Vietnam has surpassed Thailand to become the world’s second-largest rice exporter during the first half of this year.
This achievement underscores Vietnam’s strategic shift from “exporting more” to “exporting higher value”, marking a clear transition toward a quality- and value-driven rice industry.
Challenges to Sustaining Growth
Despite these successes, the Vietnamese rice sector still faces several critical challenges:
-
Salinity intrusion, drought, and climate change continue to threaten production and yields in key growing regions, particularly the Mekong Delta.
-
Export regulations and technical barriers in demanding markets such as the EU and Japan remain significant obstacles.
-
Global demand fluctuations and price competition from rival exporters could erode Vietnam’s price advantage in the medium term.
These factors highlight the need for a long-term strategy that shifts focus from increasing output to enhancing product value and market positioning.
The Path Forward: Quality, Sustainability, and Brand Identity
Vietnam’s sustainable path lies in the export of premium-quality and organic rice, combined with transparent traceability systems and the development of a national rice brand.
Without this transition, experts warn, Vietnam’s current second-place position could prove only a short-lived peak—a momentary advantage amid global oversupply and climatic instability.
Prime Minister’s Directives
Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính has tasked the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to:
-
Study the situation and immediately develop an action plan to address emerging challenges in the rice sector.
-
Act swiftly to promote rice exports—particularly high-quality and organic rice—and integrate traceability and branding systems into the value chain to increase export value.
-
Accelerate the implementation of the national project for sustainable development of one million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice linked to green growth in the Mekong Delta by 2030.
In summary, Vietnam’s rice industry stands at a pivotal moment. With strategic direction from the Government and rapid execution from ministries and enterprises, the country aims not only to maintain its global ranking but also to transform its rice exports into a symbol of national quality, sustainability, and pride.