In the Mekong Delta region, rice prices edged up slightly. According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment of An Giang Province, the following changes were recorded:

For by-products, prices ranged from 6,600 to 9,000 VND/kg. Specifically:

Across key trading locations, buying activity has picked up, especially for fragrant soft rice varieties, with stable prices:

At retail markets, rice prices remained unchanged from yesterday:

Regarding fresh paddy rice, the Department of Agriculture and Environment of An Giang Province reported:

Across several provinces:

On the export market, Vietnam’s rice export prices remained steady compared to yesterday. According to the Vietnam Food Association (VFA):

Experts recently gathered in Can Tho city, located in the Mekong Delta, to discuss new strategies and solutions for Vietnam’s rice industry as it faces rapid market changes and technological advances.

Data shows that Vietnam has little competition in the premium rice market. Thanks to its high quality, Vietnamese rice has been accepted in many countries with strict standards. Currently, Vietnam's rice exports are mainly distributed across Asia (72%), Africa (18%), and the Americas (4%), with Africa emerging as a new and promising market.

Do Ha Nam, Chairman of the Vietnam Food Association (VFA), said that despite a drop in rice prices earlier in 2025, Vietnam’s rice exports in the first quarter still reached over 2.2 million tonnes, a 2% increase compared to the same period in 2024. This reflects strong and ongoing global demand for Vietnamese rice.

Nam emphasized the need to upgrade the structure of rice varieties and reposition Vietnamese rice in the global market. Vietnam plans to enhance the quality and value of its exports by reducing the share of low- and medium-grade white rice and increasing the proportion of aromatic, Japonica, and specialty rice. By the end of 2025, low- and medium-grade white rice should make up no more than 15% of total exports, while premium varieties are expected to reach about 40%. By 2030, the goal is even higher: less than 10% for lower-grade rice and around 45% for high-quality varieties.

Nam also highlighted the importance of building efficient value chains to raise incomes for both farmers and businesses. He called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, enterprises, and farmers to ensure everyone benefits.

Tran Ngoc Thach, Director of the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta Rice Research Institute, noted that although Vietnam leads in long-grain white rice, it still needs to improve in the premium aromatic and processed rice segments. He believes that greater involvement from individuals, businesses, and research institutions is crucial to diversifying rice varieties and helping businesses enter high-value markets at home and abroad.

Thach recommended that stakeholders develop specific growing areas for different rice varieties to ensure stable production and consistent quality. This effort will require close cooperation across sectors to ensure the long-term sustainability of Vietnam’s agriculture.

Nam also mentioned the “One Million Hectares of High-Quality, Low-Emission Rice” project in the Mekong Delta, which has shown promising early results and is expected to drive major improvements in the industry.

Agreeing with this view, Nguyen Anh Phong, Deputy Director of the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Agriculture and Environment, said the project should focus on cultivating premium, high-quality, and certified rice varieties, while also building strong branding to position Vietnamese rice in high-end markets.

Phong stressed that businesses play a key role in guiding the market and value chain. Thanks to their quick responses, Vietnamese businesses have successfully captured profitable opportunities in global rice markets.

The symposium also included networking sessions between banks, businesses, and cooperatives to discuss credit needs and introduce financial products and loan support for rice production, processing, and sales.

T.Huong

Source: Vitic