Vietnamese rice exports are currently facing numerous challenges due to market fluctuations. Therefore, coordinated solutions are necessary to overcome these difficulties and expand opportunities.
At the conference on promoting rice exports in the last four months of 2025 and in the years ahead, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien emphasized the importance of Vietnamese rice. He pointed out that rice is a vital staple food, carrying strategic importance for hundreds of countries.
In Vietnam, rice was once considered the foundation of the socio-economic system before 1986. This reflects the famous saying: “Only when people have enough food can moral values be upheld.”
Today, Vietnam’s rice industry continues to play a crucial role, generating tens of billions of U.S. dollars annually. It also contributes significantly to the state budget, creates jobs, and provides stable incomes for millions of farming households.
Many industrial products are dominated by foreign-invested sectors, where domestic value added is limited. In contrast, Vietnam’s rice delivers direct and sustainable benefits to the economy. It also strengthens the nation’s presence in the international market.
Vietnamese rice exports
However, Vietnamese rice exports are currently facing unpredictable fluctuations. A notable example is the Philippines, which accounts for 38–40% of total rice exports. It suddenly suspended imports for two months, causing around 500,000 tons of rice to be left in limbo.
In addition, Indonesia has also curtailed its imports. As a result, Vietnam’s rice exports are experiencing both a decline in volume and mounting downward pressure on prices.
Against this backdrop, the Prime Minister issued Official Dispatch No. 160, dated September 9, 2025. The dispatch called for the synchronized implementation of solutions to promote rice production, exports, and market regulation.
Minister Nguyen Hong Dien also emphasized that this should be an important lesson in diversifying markets. It involves avoiding dependence on only a few partners, minimizing risks, and responding more effectively to market volatility.
In the first eight months of 2025, Vietnamese rice exports reached nearly 6.37 million tons. Accordingly, the export value reached more than $3.26 billion. The volume was up 3.7% in comparison to the same period in 2024. However, the value fell by 15.4%, even though 2024 had recorded the highest performance in history.
The Philippines remained the largest buyer, importing nearly 2.9 million tons of Vietnamese rices. This accounted for 45.9% of total exports and represented a 4.2% increase year on year. Côte d’Ivoire climbed to second place with 753.7 thousand tons (11.85%), an increase of 1.5 times.
Ghana also saw strong growth of 94.8%, reaching 662.4 thousand tons (10.4%). Notably, after years of decline, the Chinese market rebounded sharply, importing 565.3 thousand tons (8.9%), up as much as 141.3%.
In contrast, Indonesia almost completely halted imports, dropping to just 25.4 thousand tons, equivalent to a 97.2% decline. Malaysia also recorded a steep decrease of 45%. The decline in some traditional markets has been partly offset by growth in Africa and China. However, price pressure and market risks remain evident.
Vietnamese rice for export
From a regulatory perspective, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has intensified reviews and supervision of rice-exporting enterprises. From the beginning of 2025 to date, the Ministry has issued 13 decisions revoking certificates of eligibility for rice export business. These actions targeted traders that violated regulations or failed to maintain the required business conditions.
At the same time, the Ministry has actively promoted market expansion through overseas missions and trade promotion activities. Notably, in July 2025, Vietnam and Senegal signed a Memorandum of Understanding on rice trade covering a volume of 100,000 tons. Accordingly, this agreement opened up additional opportunities for Vietnamese agricultural products in Africa.
In terms of the legal framework, the Government issued Decree No. 01/2025/NĐ-CP, amending Decree No. 107/2018/NĐ-CP, and Circular No. 35/2025/TT-BCT. These measures aim to tighten management while creating a fair competitive environment for businesses.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade is also advising on the drafting of a new decree to comprehensively replace the two existing decrees. The goal is to make regulations more aligned with market realities.
According to forecasts by the Ministry of Agriculture, rice output in 2025 is likely to reach 43.143 million tons, slightly lower than in 2024. The exportable rice volume will able to be worth at around 7.54 million tons. Import demand from China, Bangladesh, and African countries will remain stable.
However, the overall market outlook still contains significant uncertainties. Global rice prices are under downward pressure due to India’s resumption of exports of 100% broken rice. Weather conditions, political factors, and trade policies of importing countries may negatively affect international transactions.
In particular, the Philippine President’s decree suspending rice imports for 60 days starting September 1, 2025 has affected market sentiment. This poses a major challenge for the final four months of the year.
Vietnamese rice warehouse
To address these difficulties, the Ministry of Industry and Trade is implementing a range of synchronized solutions. First and foremost is the continued improvement of the legal framework governing Vietnamese rice exports. This aims to ensure transparency, fairness, and efficiency in business operations. The replacement decree is being urgently drafted to address shortcomings, create a healthy competitive environment, and strengthen oversight.
In parallel, greater emphasis is being placed on forecasting and balancing supply and demand. This includes close monitoring of seasonal production, product structure, and plans for export-oriented rice supplies.
Enterprises should strictly comply with periodic reporting regimes and carry out temporary stockpiling purchases. They must also enhance their sense of responsibility in business operations. The Ministry of Industry and Trade is also stepping up inspections and strictly handling violations of export regulations.
Regarding markets, the central objective is diversification to avoid reliance on a small number of major partners. The Ministry is promoting negotiations on rice trade agreements with many countries, particularly in Africa and the Middle East.
At the same time, programs to promote and build the Vietnamese rice brand under the Market Development Strategy through 2030 should implement. Enhancing competitiveness and supporting traders in overcoming difficulties are also key priorities. Building a professional, internationally capable export enterprise community is essential, as well.
In the face of short-term challenges, sustaining growth in rice exports depends not only on flexible policy management but also on the proactive efforts of enterprises to seek out and expand markets. Vietnamese rice has firmly established its position on the global agricultural map.
However, to maintain and further strengthen that position, close coordination among the State, businesses, and farmers is essential. This is the key to overcoming immediate difficulties while opening wider doors to deeper integration, enabling the Vietnamese rice brand to reach further and develop sustainably.
Vietnamese source: https://thuehaiquan.tapchikinhtetaichinh.vn/thao-go-kho-khan-cho-xuat-khau-gao-93972.html