After directives and policy measures from the Government, Vietnam’s export rice prices have rebounded, and domestic rice prices have also begun to rise.
According to rice traders, export rice prices have been increasing in recent days. Mr. Do Ha Nam, the newly elected Chairman of the Vietnam Food Association (VFA), stated that Vietnam’s rice export prices had previously fallen to USD 435–440 per ton, but by March 21, they had climbed back up to USD 470 per ton.
As export prices rose, domestic paddy prices stabilized and began to recover. Mr. Le Van Sua, a farmer in Rach May Hamlet, Tuyen Binh Commune, Vinh Hung District (Long An Province), shared that OM18 paddy was currently being purchased by traders at 6,500–6,600 VND/kg, slightly higher than in mid-March. At this price, although profits are lower than in the 2023–2024 Winter–Spring crop, his family expects a total profit of around 100 million VND from 4 hectares in the 2024–2025 Winter–Spring crop.
Some rice traders attributed the recovery in rice and paddy prices mainly to the decisive and timely intervention from the Government, particularly through the provision of large, low-interest, and long-term loans that allow enterprises to purchase more paddy from farmers. Additionally, the Government has begun implementing national reserve procurement in accordance with regulations.
Chairman Do Ha Nam confirmed that just one day after the Government’s policy adjustments, export rice prices began to rise again. This, he emphasized, demonstrates that when there is coordinated action from the Government, ministries, and the private sector, Vietnam’s rice industry can remain resilient amid strong international market pressures.
He also highlighted the ongoing restructuring of rice varieties in Vietnam, which helps the industry better meet the needs of diverse markets and maintain stability despite fierce price competition in the lower-grade rice segment.
Mr. Nam noted that since the beginning of the year, several Vietnamese rice varieties—especially glutinous rice—have maintained strong sales at high prices. Last year, export glutinous rice averaged USD 480 per ton, but this year prices have risen to USD 570–580 per ton. Vietnam’s glutinous rice export volume has now reached 1 million tons.
As for the ST25 variety, Chinese buyers have shown very strong demand, offering USD 780–790 per ton. However, despite the attractive price, Vietnamese exporters have struggled to meet orders due to limited domestic supply.
According to Mr. Nam, over the past few years, Asia has accounted for 72% of Vietnam’s total rice exports, primarily to the Philippines, China, Malaysia, and Indonesia, while Africa made up about 18%, and Europe, the United States, and Australia only a small share.
In the first two months of this year, as Vietnam faced difficulties due to lower import demand from the Philippines and Indonesia, many exporters shifted their focus to African markets. As a result, exports to several African nations have surged dramatically:
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Côte d’Ivoire: 213,000 tons (+1,237%)
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Ghana: 112,000 tons (+318%)
Exports to some Asian and European markets also grew strongly:
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China: +281%
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Bangladesh: +37,806%
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Turkey: +21,270%
In the Philippines, Vietnam’s largest export market, export value fell compared to the same period in 2024 due to lower export prices, but export volume still increased by 9.4%, reaching 547,000 tons in the first two months of 2025. This indicates that Philippine demand remains robust, and importers there continue to prioritize purchasing Vietnamese rice.