On March 24, in Can Tho city, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, in coordination with the People’s Committee of Can Tho city, convened the 2026 Conference on Promoting Rice Exports. The event drew broad participation from central and local authorities, Vietnam’s trade offices abroad, industry associations and the rice export business community.

Market volatility

The conference was attended by Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Phan Thi Thang, Vice Chairman of the Can Tho city People’s Committee Vuong Quoc Nam, along with leaders of various functional units under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, representatives from relevant ministries and agencies, associations and enterprises.

The event served as an important forum to comprehensively assess the state of rice exports, identify challenges and propose solutions amid a highly volatile market environment.

According to assessments presented at the conference, the global rice market is facing multiple uncertainties. Prolonged geopolitical conflicts, fluctuating energy prices, rising logistics and maritime transport costs, and policy adjustments by many countries regarding trade and food reserves have all directly impacted global supply, demand and rice prices.

Speaking at the conference, Vuong Quoc Nam noted that Can Tho plays a central role in the Mekong Delta and serves as a gateway to the lower Mekong region. The city is a key transport hub with a multi-modal logistics system. It is accelerating infrastructure development, particularly airport urban areas and logistics linked to its international airport, to strengthen trade connectivity. In 2025, the city’s economy recorded positive growth, with GRDP rising 7.23% to over VND 300 trillion, alongside a shift toward a more modern economic structure.

Domestically, the Mekong Delta is entering the peak harvest period for the Winter - Spring crop. A surge in supply has driven down paddy purchase prices compared to the same period last year, affecting farmers’ incomes and the broader value chain.

At the conference, Nguyen Anh Son, Director of the Agency of Foreign Trade under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, reported that as of mid-March 2026, rice exports reached approximately 1.74 million tonnes, with a turnover of over USD 826 million. While export volume rose slightly, both value and average export prices declined, reflecting mounting competitive pressures.

Market structure continues to show divergence. The Philippines remains the largest market, accounting for more than 55% of total export volume and posting strong growth. China, Malaysia, and Australia recorded positive increases, while several African markets saw significant declines.

From a local perspective, Tran Quoc Tuan, Director of the Department of Industry and Trade of Vinh Long Province, said the rice sector is facing “headwinds” from the international market, particularly as some countries adjust their import policies. This requires a shift in mindset from “selling what we have” to “selling what the market demands.”

Strengthening value chain linkages, enhancing competitiveness

Against this backdrop, the conference focused on fundamental solutions to improve the competitiveness of Vietnam’s rice sector.

A key direction is to strengthen linkages across the value chain from production to processing and consumption.

Currently, Can Tho is home to 35 enterprises eligible for direct rice exports, supported by a relatively modern system of warehouses and processing plants. The city is promoting the development of raw material zones and encouraging enterprises to sign off-take contracts, thereby forming sustainable value chains.

At the same time, the implementation of the one-million-hectare high-quality, low-emission rice project associated with green growth is being accelerated. Advanced production models help reduce costs, increase profits and curb emissions, thereby enhancing the value of Vietnamese rice.

From the business perspective, Nguyen Viet Anh, Director of Phuong Dong Food Company, emphasized the need to closely monitor oil price movements and transport costs to ensure timely operational responses. He also called for greater transparency in the criteria used to evaluate rice exporters, in order to foster a fair competitive environment.

Recommendations at the conference also focused on establishing sufficiently strong temporary stockpiling mechanisms, providing preferential interest rate support, expanding credit limits, and intensifying trade promotion to diversify markets. At the same time, it is necessary to reasonably control rice imports to protect domestic production while still complying with international commitments.

According to Do Ha Nam, Chairman of the Vietnam Food Association (VFA), the Philippines remains the largest market, while China and Malaysia continue to grow, and African markets are declining. Global demand is expected to remain strong but increasingly segmented. To capitalize on opportunities, it is essential to diversify markets, improve rice quality, intensify trade promotion and ensure flexible export management.

In her concluding remarks, Deputy Minister Phan Thi Thang stressed that in 2026, rice exports will face numerous challenges stemming from global market volatility, intensifying competition and unpredictable factors. Therefore, ministries, agencies, local authorities and businesses must shift from a “reactive” stance to one of “proactive adaptation,” flexibly adjusting market strategies and effectively leveraging free trade agreements to expand export opportunities.

She underscored the importance of closely monitoring market developments, enhancing analytical and forecasting capabilities, and ensuring timely policy responses to avoid falling into a reactive position. Export management must strike a balance between promoting the consumption of commercial rice, stabilizing domestic prices and ensuring national food security.

Local Departments of Industry and Trade were urged to maintain a firm grasp of procurement and production conditions, promptly address speculation and hoarding, and prevent market distortions. They should serve as the “eyes and ears” on the ground, proactively compiling difficulties and recommendations to enable the Ministry to adjust policies swiftly and effectively.

In the long term, the Deputy Minister called for continued restructuring of the rice sector toward higher quality, greater value addition and sustainable development, in line with increasingly stringent international standards. The business community, in particular, was encouraged to strengthen linkages, build a unified voice and actively propose improvements to mechanisms and policies, moving toward a stable, long-term rice export strategy with strong competitiveness, rather than relying on short-term, ad hoc responses.

A notable highlight of the conference was the introduction of a software-based reporting system for rice export management. The tool is expected to enhance transparency, support enterprises in administrative procedures and enable authorities to closely monitor market developments.

With synchronized solutions spanning production to market, Vietnam’s rice sector is positioning itself to enhance value, consolidate its standing and achieve sustainable development amid intensifying global competition.