Between January and June this year India managed to retain its top position, exporting 11.68 million tonnes of rice, up 36.5% compared to the same period last year. Vietnam followed with 4.72 million tonnes shipped abroad, marking a rise of 3.6% year on year, while Thailand fell to third place with just 3.73 million tonnes, representing a sharp decline of 27.3%.

Trailing behind were Pakistan exporting 2.76 million tonnes, down 20.2%, and the United States with 1.4 million tonnes, down 23.5%.

Charoen Laothamatas, president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, attributed the decline in Thailand's ranking to rising operating costs coupled with persistently high domestic rice prices. By the end of June, Thailand’s rice export value saw an annual drop of 36.4% to 75.57 billion baht, approximately US$2.34 billion.

Charoen noted that traditional markets are increasingly turning to more flexible suppliers like Vietnam and Pakistan, where pricing is more competitive. He also pointed to the strengthening Thai baht as a key factor in weakening Thailand’s export competitiveness.

However, Thailand remains optimistic, expecting to export over 600,000 tonnes in July, thanks to rising demand from major markets such as Iraq, China, Japan, and several African nations, mainly due to falling global rice prices.

David Dawe, a senior agricultural policy expert at the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), outlined that the global rice trade is now entering a new phase of competition, and that it is no longer a race for output, but instead a focus on cost efficiency and adaptability to shifting consumption patterns.

He noted that countries which implement flexible policies and build resilient supply chains would ultimately emerge as leaders.

Vietnam, in contrast, has maintained steady growth and capitalized on market fluctuations by investing in high-quality rice varieties such as fragrant rice, organic rice, and rice tailored to specific markets. This strategy has helped increase both the value and reputation of Vietnamese rice globally.

In the time ahead, experts warn that rice prices may continue to face downward pressure due to increasing supply from major producers, while global demand shows signs of slowing. This will intensify price competition among exporters, thereby compelling even long-established players to rethink and adapt their strategies in a bid to safeguard market shares.

Vietnamese rice regains position as most expensive rice globally

VOV.VN - After a period of experiencing a plunge and reaching a bottom, Vietnamese rice has regained its tag as the most expensive rice in the world, according to the Vietnam Food Association (VFA).