Do Ha Nam, Chairman of the Vietnam Food Association (VFA) said following a temporary halt in rice imports by the Philippines from September 1, Vietnam’s overall rice exports declined. In September, shipments reached 467,000 tons, nearly half the volume in August. During the first half of October, exports totaled 201,000 tons, compared with 379,000 tons in the same period of 2024.

Despite this regional disruption, Vietnamese exporters maintained export volumes near 500,000 tons per month by redirecting supplies to other markets, with China emerging as the largest beneficiary. Between January and September, rice exports to China rose to 600,000 tons, up from 241,000 tons in the same period of 2024, at prices approaching US$500 per ton, compared with around US$400 previously.

African markets have also increased purchases of Vietnamese rice. Unlike previous years, when imports were concentrated in the second and third quarters, buyers in Africa have started earlier and continue to import through the fourth quarter, signaling growing recognition and preference for Vietnamese rice.

According to the VFA, by the end of October, Vietnam had exported more than seven million tons of rice. Total exports for 2025 are projected at around eight million tons, surpassing Thailand and ranking Vietnam as the world’s second-largest rice exporter, after India.

Vietnam exports 7 million tonnes of rice, earning nearly US$3.59 billion

Vietnam had exported more than 7 million tonnes of rice as of October 15, but domestic paddy and rice prices have fallen amid slower purchases by exporters, according to the Vietnam Food Association (VFA).