Vietnam rice exports rise as premium prices recover

Vietnam's rice export sector is benefitting from strong demand for high‑quality, low‑emission varieties. Premium grades such as Jasmine and the ST25 line are trading at $509‑$513 per ton and above $1,200 per ton respectively, lifting export values despite overall market caution caused by geopolitical tensions, high freight and energy costs.

Export volumes reached about 4.5 million tonnes in the first five months of 2026, earning roughly $2.09 billion, but the average export price fell 3.6 % to $467.6 per tonne. The Philippines remains the biggest buyer, accounting for nearly 47 % of shipments, followed by China and Ghana. Global rice production is projected to dip to 537.8 million tonnes in the 2026‑27 season, with world stocks dropping to about 192.7 million tonnes, a situation that could support price gains in the second half of the year.

Domestically, the shift toward premium and green‑label rice is seen as a way to sustain competitiveness, with over 70 000 tonnes of low‑emission rice already shipped to Japan, the EU and Australia. However, benefits are uneven: exporters and middle‑men gain from price spreads, while many farmers face lower farmgate prices and occasional losses of up to 2 000 dong per kilogram.