Chookiat Ophaswongse, honorary president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, said total exports in January reached only 530,000 tonnes, down 17.5% from the same period last year, while export value plummeted 30.7% to 9.7 billion THB (about 312 million USD). Average monthly exports are expected to remain at around 500,000 tonnes until mid-year due to various challenges.
Do Ha Nam, Chairman of the Vietnam Food Association (VFA), said that 2026 presents numerous difficulties and challenges, and the global supply glut significantly impacts all exporters, including Vietnam.
Vietnam exported more than 8.06 million tonnes of rice in 2025, earning over 4.1 billion USD.
In 2025, Thai rice shipments are forecast to reach 7.88-8 million tonnes, exceeding the target of 7.5 million tonnes thanks to strong year-end demand.
Sustainable rice export strategies were the focus of a conference held in Ho Chi Minh City on December 10, where the Import–Export Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade assessed both the challenges and opportunities facing Vietnam’s rice exports in 2026.
According to data from Vietnam Customs, Vietnam exported more than 7.53 million tonnes of rice worth over 3.85 billion USD in the first 11 months of 2025.
Thailand maintains its export target for next year at 7.5 million tonnes, including 3.5 million tonnes of white rice, 1.7 million tonnes of hom mali rice, 1.4 million tonnes of parboiled rice, 600,000 tonnes of Thai fragrant rice and 300,000 tonnes of sticky rice.
Asia remained Vietnam’s largest export market, accounting for 44.7% of the total turnover, followed by the Americas with 22.7% and Europe with 13.8%. Africa and Oceania represented 3% and 1.4%, respectively.
Cumulative rice exports reached 7.02 million tonnes, valued at nearly 3.59 billion USD, down 4.4% in volume and 21.9% in value from the same period last year, VFA data showed.
The Vietnam Food Association said that export rice prices are stable, with 5% broken fragrant rice currently offered for sale at around 440 - 465 USD per tonne, and Jasmine rice prices ranging from 496 - 500 USD a tonne.
Thailand’s rice exports reported a 16.9% decrease in volume in August, with domestic prices falling by 200 THB (6.2 USD) per tonne.
Despite a temporary halt in rice import from the Philippines, Vietnam’s export is expected to exceed 8.2 million tonnes for the whole year, bolstered by rising shipments to such markets as Bangladesh, China, and South Africa.
Despite the temporary import suspension by some key markets like Indonesia and the Philippines, Vietnam’s rice exports remain stable, and many markets’ demand is expected to recover by the end of this year, according to Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien.
The country's rice exports reached 5.87 million tonnes, valued at more than 3 billion USD, up 2.88% in volume but down 16% in value compared with the same period in 2024.
The Thai National Rice Policy and Management Committee (NRPC) reviewed and approved a framework for assistance to off-season rice farmers in 2025 to mitigate the impact of low global rice prices.
Vietnam’s average export price for rice currently stands at 514 USD per tonne. Although this is lower than in recent years, it remains higher than that of other suppliers, he said, noting that the global rice market is experiencing oversupply.
Speaking at a conference in Ho Chi Minh City on August 12 to seek ways to promote the products’ exports in 2025, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Thanh Nam noted that despite global political instability and a slowdown in economic growth, Vietnam’s agro-forestry-fishery export has shown notable resilience.
In the first half of 2025, Singapore imported rice products worth 60.9 million SGD (over 47.7 million USD) from Vietnam, accounting for 24.5% of the country’s total rice imports.
With an Asia-origin community of around seven million people, Canada is emerging as a promising rice market. As the country seeks to diversify its supply sources, and reduce dependence on a single partner such as the United States, a golden opportunity is open for Vietnamese businesses to expand their rice export share in the Northern American market.
The successful export of this first certified staple is the result of tireless collaboration among farmers, cooperatives, businesses, and agricultural authorities across the Mekong Delta.