Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnam exported 3.3 million tonnes of rice worth 1.57 billion USD in the first four months of 2026, down 2.3% in volume and 11.1% in value year-on-year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.
Domestic paddy prices have also fluctuated sharply, plunging during the harvest before rebounding within days, creating difficulties for both farmers and exporters.
By the end of April, the country's winter-spring rice cultivation area had reached 2.93 million hectares, with 1.67 million hectares harvested and output estimated at 11.5 million tonnes. The summer-autumn rice crop covered an estimated 355,500 hectares.
Rice exports in April alone were estimated at 1.1 million tonnes worth 492.7 million USD, bringing total exports since the beginning of the year to 3.3 million tonnes valued at 1.57 billion USD.
The average export price stood at 468.4 USD per tonne, down 9% from the same period last year.
According to the Vietnam Food Association (VFA), India's 5% broken rice was quoted at around 353 USD per tonne in late April, while Thailand's equivalent was priced at about 386 USD per tonne.
The Philippines remained Vietnam's largest rice importer, accounting for 48.5% of total exports, followed by China with 15.6% and Ghana with 7%.
Compared with the same period last year, rice export value to the Philippines rose 6.7%, while shipments to China jumped 44.4%.
In contrast, exports to Ghana fell 28.7%, while those to Côte d'Ivoire plunged 59.6%, the steepest decline among Vietnam's 15 biggest export markets.
Do Ha Nam, Chairman of the Vietnam Food Association, said domestic paddy prices had fallen to around 5,000 VND per kilogram during the recent harvest, discouraging many farmers from selling. However, prices rebounded rapidly just a few days later, leaving exporters scrambling to secure supplies.
He attributed the volatility largely to developments in the Philippine market, which accounts for more than 40% of Vietnam's rice exports.
Nam noted that in 2025, the Philippines announced a temporary suspension of rice imports during the final four months of the year, raising concerns over excess inventories in Vietnam. However, the country later resumed purchases, quickly reversing market sentiment.
The sharp market reversal left many exporters in a difficult position. Fearing a shortage of export contracts and facing intense competition during the harvest, they stepped up paddy purchases. But when prices surged, the inventories they had built up became harder to sell, driving up costs and eroding profit margins.
The volatility has also affected farmers, many of whom lack adequate drying and storage facilities and are therefore forced to sell their harvest immediately when prices are low.
To address the problem, Nam proposed expanding access to drying and storage facilities, allowing farmers to use paddy as collateral for bank loans, or enabling them to store their harvest at exporters' warehouses.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Vo Van Hung said recent discussions with Philippine officials confirmed that demand for Vietnamese rice remains strong. The two countries are also working toward long-term cooperation, with the Philippines expected to send a delegation to Vietnam to discuss strategic collaboration in the rice sector.
Hung stressed that Vietnam should pursue long-term agreements with key importers to reduce the impact of sudden policy shifts and ensure greater stability for rice exports. He added that the ministry is reviewing policies on rice exports, production linkages and storage capacity to better support both farmers and businesses./.
