The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) has issued Directive No. 7142 outlining urgent measures to strengthen rice production, expand exports and stabilize domestic supply.

Expanding export markets and refining policies

Under the directive, the Department of Multilateral Trade Policy is tasked with including rice in the 2026 sectoral study roadmap of the national project supporting businesses in leveraging free trade agreements (FTAs). The unit will also promote talks with the European Union and the United Kingdom to revise the list of fragrant rice varieties eligible for tariff quotas under EVFTA and UKVFTA, while making use of additional quotas under the CPTPP until 2030.

The Department of Foreign Market Development will instruct Vietnam’s trade offices abroad to closely monitor changes in rice import policies and promptly report back to support production and export planning. The department will also review rice trade memoranda of understanding and propose new agreements with promising partners to diversify export markets.

The directive requires strict implementation of the Prime Minister’s Order No. 160, issued on September 9, 2025, on boosting rice exports and stabilizing supply.

The Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency has been assigned to intensify promotional campaigns for Vietnamese rice in domestic and overseas distribution systems. It will allocate funding from the national trade promotion program to support marketing activities, combining traditional and digital platforms. The agency will also assist the Vietnam Food Association and industry bodies in developing a national-level rice promotion plan using advanced technology and digital transformation.

Meanwhile, the Import-Export Department will continue implementing the “Strategy for Developing Vietnam’s Rice Export Market to 2030” and coordinate the drafting of a decree to replace Decrees 107/2018 and 01/2025 on rice exports. It will monitor global rice market developments and trade policies to provide timely updates to ministries, associations and exporters.

Domestic market stability and business responsibility

Domestically, the Department of Domestic Market Management and Development will track market movements, instruct provinces to facilitate rice consumption and prevent unfair pricing or unhealthy competition. The department will also continue integrating rice into wholesale and retail systems under the “Vietnamese People Prioritize Vietnamese Goods” campaign, while strengthening inspections to curb smuggling, low-quality rice sales and consumer fraud.

The National Competition Commission and the Trade Remedies Authority will oversee compliance with competition and trade defense laws. At the same time, MoIT’s Legal Department will join the decree drafting process to ensure a solid legal framework for rice exports.

The directive also tasks the Vietnam Food Association and the Vietnam Rice Industry Association with guiding members to strictly comply with importers’ requirements, maintain updated supply-demand data, and roll out trade promotion projects.

Enterprises, the directive stresses, must ensure compliance in purchasing, storage, circulation and market development. They are urged to actively buy and stockpile rice, honor export contracts, track global market shifts, and explore new opportunities in Africa, the Middle East and South Asia alongside traditional buyers.

Rice exporters are further encouraged to invest in workforce training, strengthen contract negotiation and dispute settlement capacity, uphold product quality, diversify varieties and niches, and focus on brand-building to enhance Vietnam’s reputation in international markets.

The MoIT emphasized that all actions must align with the Prime Minister’s directive and that rice production, business and export activities must remain transparent, responsible and adaptable to global fluctuations aiming for sustainable and efficient development of Vietnam’s rice sector.

The telegram thoroughly requested the serious implementation of the Prime Minister's direction in Telegram No. 160/CD-TTg dated September 9, 2025 on promoting production, export and stabilizing the rice market, while emphasizing the need to ensure that rice production, business and export activities must be transparent, healthy, and able to respond flexibly and promptly to fluctuations, aiming at sustainable and effective development of the rice industry.