Vietnam's rice exports to new markets are increasing

28-Oct-2025 01:41 PM

Hanoi. Despite the temporary suspension of rice imports to the Philippines, Vietnam's export performance of this important food grain remains satisfactory, as it is successfully increasing shipments to new markets, including China and several African countries.

It is noteworthy that the Philippines, a major buyer of Vietnamese rice, has suspended its imports there since September 1, 2025. Consequently, total rice exports from Vietnam during September 2025 fell by nearly 50 percent compared to August, to 46.7 million tons.

Similarly, in the first fortnight of the current month (October), only 20.1 million tons of rice were exported from Vietnam, significantly lower than the 37.9 million tons shipped in the same period in October 2024.

The Chairman of the Vietnam Food Association states that despite the closure of trade in its most important markets, it is necessary to maintain the average monthly rice export from Vietnam at around 500,000 tons.

To achieve this, exporters will need to focus on increasing shipments to other markets, especially China. Vietnamese rice exports to China have been experiencing a significant increase since the beginning of the current year.

By mid-October, approximately 600,000 tons of rice had been exported to China, compared to only 241,000 tons during the same period last year.

Export prices have risen from $400 per ton to $500 per ton. Over 7 million tons of rice have already been exported from Vietnam during the current calendar year, with November and December still to come.

Total exports for the entire year are expected to reach close to 8 million tons. This could make Vietnam the world's second-largest rice exporter, behind India, surpassing Thailand.