Businesses continue to wait for higher prices
After a long period of deep decline, export rice prices have increased again and reached nearly 400 USD/tonne for 5% broken rice (FOB price). Vietnam's export rice prices have surpassed those of other countries in the region and the world. The latest updated data from Vietnam Food Association shows that Vietnam's 5% broken rice export price is at 399 USD/tonne. Meanwhile, in Thailand, India, and Pakistan, the prices are at 396 USD/tonne, 380 USD/tonne, and 389 USD/tonne, respectively.
With Vietnam's 25% broken rice export price standing at 370 USD/tonne, it is 5 USD/tonne lower than Thailand's rice export price but 4 USD/tonne and 11 USD/tonne higher than India's and Pakistan's rice export prices, respectively.
Resurgence of Vietnam's rice export price is believed to be due to the fact that previous time, rice export price had hit rock bottom. In addition, the biggest rice crop of the year - Winter-Spring crop - has gradually ended, amount of rice left in the people is not much, so consumption pressure is not as great as before. Meanwhile, Summer-Autumn crop has to wait until July and August to have rice again. During this gap, buyers are still in great demand and prices will be better.
In addition, many importers, after a period of adjustment and waiting for price movements from major exporting countries such as Vietnam, India or Thailand, are now returning to the market, increasing negotiations, pushing up domestic rice prices and export rice prices.
In domestic market, many businesses have stored a relatively large amount of rice to negotiate prices with partners. The market has good signals and quality of winter-spring rice is the best of the year, so exporting businesses are not in a hurry to close orders.
A representative of a business specializing in exporting rice to two main markets, the Philippines and China, with a turnover of about 120,000 tonnes, speaking to a reporter from the Industry and Trade Newspaper, Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh - Director of Phuoc Thanh IV Company Limited (Vinh Long province) - said that many foreign traders have contacted to negotiate contract prices, but the business still has no intention of selling because the market signal is gradually improving.
“At the beginning of the year, rice prices were relatively high. Then, rice prices dropped sharply, businesses focused on buying to average the price level. At this time, the rice export price has brought profits to businesses, but the price is still not very good. Businesses expect that the export rice price will continue to increase,” said Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh.
Competing with quality, maintaining the market
By the end of the first quarter of 2025, rice exports reached 2.2 million tonnes and 1.14 billion USD, up 0.6% in volume but down 19.7% in value compared to the same period in 2024. The reason is that the average export price of rice in the first 3 months of 2025 is estimated at 522.1 USD/tonne, down 20.1% compared to the same period in 2024.
The Philippines is Vietnam's largest rice consuming market with a market share of 42.1%. Ivory Coast and Ghana are the next two largest markets with market shares of 16.3% and 10.2%, respectively.
Compared to the same period last year, value of rice exports in the first 2 months of 2025 to the Philippines market decreased by 15.7%, while the Ivory Coast market increased 10 times and the Ghana market increased 3.3 times. Among the 15 largest export markets, rice export value increased the most in the Bangladesh market with an increase of 247.6 times and decreased the most in the Indonesian market with a decrease of 96.8%.
According to experts, it is diversification of markets and the shift in structure of exported rice types towards increasing proportion of fragrant rice, Japonica rice, specialty rice and high value-added rice products that have helped Vietnamese rice stand firm in the context of a volatile market.
Talking to reporters of Industry and Trade Newspaper, Mr. Do Ha Nam - Chairman of Vietnam Food Association (VFA) - said that thanks to the difference in quality, Vietnamese rice is gradually dominating traditional markets and new markets. Therefore, continuing to improve quality, diversifying rice products to create a difference in the world market; building an effective rice value chain, from production to consumption is a necessary direction for the rice industry.
Currently, Vietnam's exported rice has 3 types: regular rice, fragrant rice, and premium rice. Of which, fragrant rice accounts for 60%, and premium rice accounts for 15%. Vietnam's fragrant rice is trusted by customers. In addition, Vietnam also has an advantage in output for fragrant rice compared to other rice exporting countries. This is also considered an advantage, helping Vietnamese rice to hold market share and price.

Source: Vitic/ congthuong.vn