AsemconnectVietnam -  Vietnam’s rice exports this year to the end of November hit a record high since 1989 with an export volume of nearly 7.8 million tonnes and turnover of 4.4 billion USD.

Many experts expect that rice export would reach eight million tonnes with a total value of 4.6 billion USD in 2023. The initial target set at the beginning of this year is about seven million tonnes, relatively the same as in 2022.
Nguyen Van Don, Director of Viet Hung Ltd Company in the southern province of Tien Giang said that demand for rice in the global market remains high and prices of exported rice in other countries increase, but Vietnamese rice prices don't because supply has run short. Vietnamese rice exporters are now waiting for the new harvest season.
According to Vietnam Food Association, in the last two weeks, Thai rice’s prices have increased by 5% to 632 USD per tonne, about 50 USD higher than those at the middle of last month. Pakistan's rice is priced at about 600 USD per tonne while Vietnamese rice at 663 USD per tonne.
Chookiat Ophaswongse, Honorary President of the Thai Rice Exporters Association (TREA) said that Thai rice’s prices have recently increased sharply due to the limited supply of Vietnamese rice.
Vietnam promotes rice exports to China
A delegation of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) led by Deputy Director of the ministry’s Agency of Foreign Trade Tran Quoc Toan and representatives from 19 Vietnamese rice exporters have paid a working visit to Beijing, China to promote Vietnamese rice in the market.
During the visit, the Vietnamese delegation worked with representatives from the Ministry of Commerce of China, the China Animal Agriculture Association, and Xinfadi Group and visited the Vietnam Trade Office in China.
According to the MoIT, in the structure of exports from Vietnam to China, rice shipments have seen good growth in recent years, accounting for nearly one-fifth of China's total rice imports. In 2022, Vietnam's rice exports to China reached 834,200 tonnes, worth 423.2 million USD.
In the first nine months of 2023, China imported nearly 869,000 tonnes of rice from Vietnam, an increase of 41.1% over the same period in 2022.
Hau Giang to host first int’l rice festival in mid-December
The first International Rice Festival 2023 is scheduled to be held in the Mekong Delta province of Hau Giang from December 11 to 14, according to the provincial People’s Committee.
The festival, themed "Green Rice for Life", aims to promote the development of high-quality rice production as well as its value chain towards organic rice production, ensuring food security and climate change adaptation in the Mekong Delta.
This marks the first time the Vietnam-Hau Giang Rice Industry Festival, initiated in 2009, has been upgraded into an international-level event. It will feature 500 booths showcasing various kinds of rice, products made under the One Commune One Product (OCOP) programme, delicacies made from rice, and machinery and drones that serve rice production.
There will also be a rice-themed road set up along Xa No Canal in the province, depicting the country’s journey from being an importer of the grain to becoming the second largest exporter, along with seminars, contests, and many other activities.
Public-private partnership needed for sustainable rice farming
Attracting investment and public-private partnership (PPP) plays an important role in implementing the project of sustainable development of 1 million ha of low-emission high-quality rice production in the Mekong Delta to 2030, said insiders.
The project will promote added value throughout the entire rice production chain, raising farmers' incomes, ensuring sustainable development amid worsening climate change, and contributing to green growth.
According to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Tran Thanh Nam, the project will focus on measures to reduce production costs for farmers and expand carbon-certified rice production.
Le Thanh Tung, Deputy Director of the Crop Production Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), said mobilising components in the value chain through public-private partnership programmes is a top priority in implementing the project.
Vietnamese rice won top prize at the World’s Best Rice competition
At the 2023 International World Rice Conference, organized by The Rice Trader in the Philippines, Vietnamese rice was honored with the first prize as the "World's Best Rice." Second and third places went to Cambodian and Indian rice, respectively. The fact that Vietnamese rice once again won top prize in a global rice competition is an encouraging sign for the development of the Vietnamese rice brand, boosting expectations for increased growth in rice exports in the coming period.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, there were 3 Vietnamese enterprises participated in the competition this year with six types of rice: Ho Quang Tri private enterprise entered the competition with ST24 and ST25 rice; Loc Troi Group submitted Loc Troi 28 and Nang Hoa 9 rice; ThaiBinh Seed with TBR39 and TBR39_1 rice. Therefore, the organizers honored Vietnamese rice overall rather than any specific types from different companies.
On November 30, held as part of the 15th Annual TRT International World Rice Conference in Cebu, Philippines, the Rice Trader officially awarded Vietnam as The World’s Best Rice of 2023. All the 3 Vietnamese representatives clinched this prestigious award with their six rice varieties.
T.Huong
Source: Vitic/VNA