PM's Directive to stabilize rice production and exports

While Viet Nam's rice production and exports have maintained a positive trajectory, the Prime Minister noted that the international landscape remains complex and unpredictable. Geopolitical conflicts in various regions, rising energy prices, and increased logistics and shipping costs, combined with shifting trade and food reserve policies in several nations, continue to pressure global supply, demand, and pricing.

Domestically, the Mekong Delta is currently in the peak of its Winter-Spring harvest. This surge in supply has led to a decline in purchase prices for farmers compared to the same period in 2025. To ensure production stability, facilitate smooth consumption, and bolster export efficiency, the Prime Minister has ordered ministries, regional authorities, and enterprises to implement a comprehensive suite of solutions.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is tasked with guiding local authorities to closely monitor production trends and pest control while proactively responding to adverse weather to protect crop yields and maintain low production costs. Furthermore, the ministry will coordinate with relevant agencies to dismantle technical barriers, thereby increasing export volumes and diversifying Viet Nam’s international footprint. It is also expected to facilitate connections between enterprises to streamline procurement and processing, ensuring that farmers can reliably sell their commercial rice. The ministry must also provide timely market updates to help stakeholders adjust production and export strategies in line with global trends.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade will lead efforts to monitor global import-export trends and food prices to effectively regulate domestic business activities. This mandate includes inspecting procurement and stockpiling practices, intensifying trade promotion, and reducing reliance on traditional markets by expanding into new regions and promoting processed rice products. Simultaneously, the Ministry of Finance is responsible for price monitoring and market stabilization. This involves exploring ways to mitigate logistics and export costs amid high international shipping rates and developing a national rice reserve plan to help stabilize domestic prices.

To provide necessary financial liquidity, the State Bank of Viet Nam will direct credit institutions to offer loans at reasonable interest rates to support businesses in purchasing rice during the harvest peak. The central bank is also researching preferential credit mechanisms for enterprises with significant storage capacity to encourage temporary stockpiling. At the local level, authorities must monitor field conditions and manage production flexibly to meet or exceed yield targets. It is critical that local agencies work with cooperatives and businesses to ensure timely procurement, preventing situations where ripe rice remains unharvested or unsold.

Local governments are further instructed to strengthen market management and oversight of traders and enterprises to prevent price manipulation and unfair competition. Finally, rice associations and export firms are urged to ramp up procurement efforts, particularly in the major production hubs of the Mekong Delta, utilizing their storage and processing infrastructure to help stabilize the market through strategic stockpiling.