Accelerating rice exports at an even faster pace

The Government Office has just issued Document No. 7697/VPCP-NN dated August 18, 2025, conveying the instructions of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh regarding Vietnam’s rice exports.

Earlier, the Government Portal released a report on media coverage and public opinion concerning the Government’s direction and administration, which included measures aimed at maintaining Vietnam’s position as the world’s second-largest rice exporter.

According to the report, the Thai Rice Exporters Association recently announced that Vietnam has surpassed Thailand to become the world’s second-largest rice exporter in the first six months of this year. This achievement highlights a clear shift from “exporting in volume” to “exporting with value,” creating a distinct competitive advantage.

However, to sustain this position, Vietnam’s rice sector must address several bottlenecks while facing considerable risks: the impacts of saltwater intrusion, drought, and climate change that could cause fluctuations in output; along with export management policies and technical barriers imposed by demanding markets such as the EU and Japan, which remain major challenges.

In the context of weakening global demand or intensified price competition from rivals, Vietnam’s price advantage in rice exports may narrow. This calls for a long-term strategy that shifts the focus from increasing output to enhancing product value.

Over the longer term, the sustainable pathway lies in moving toward exports of high-quality rice, organic rice, products with traceable origins, and the establishment of a strong national brand. Otherwise, Vietnam’s current second-place ranking may prove to be only a brief “crest of the wave” amid cycles of oversupply and the volatility of global climate change.

On this matter, the Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to study the above information, take the lead and coordinate with relevant agencies to formulate concrete plans and take immediate actions within its mandate. The Ministry is tasked with seizing opportunities and accelerating rice exports at an even faster pace, particularly high-quality and organic rice linked to traceability systems and the building of a national rice brand, in order to increase added value in rice exports. The Prime Minister also instructed the acceleration of the Sustainable Development Project of one million hectares specializing in high-quality, low-emission rice cultivation associated with green growth in the Mekong Delta until 2030.