HCMC – Rice prices in Dong Thap Province, one of the Mekong Delta’s key rice growning areas, has been facing significant downward pressure as the ongoing Winter-Spring harvest reaches its peak, coupled with a cooling export performance.
The province has cultivated over 224,300 hectares this season, according to the Dong Thap Department of Agriculture and Environment. As of late March, 50% of the area has been harvested with an average yield of 7.26 tons per hectare with some prime fields even reaching a remarkable 10 tons per hectare.
Total output is projected to reach over 1.6 million tons by mid-April, creating a massive short-term supply that has outpaced current domestic and international demand.
However, farmers’ initial optimism has quickly faded as rice prices have slumped during the harvest peak. Key varieties, including Dai Thom 8, Nang Hoa 9, OM 5451 and ST25, have seen price drops ranging from several hundred to nearly VND1,000 per kilogram compared to the start of the season. Current market prices are hovering between VND5,500 and VND6,900 per kilogram depending on the variety.
Rice exports are seen as the decisive factor behind the current price slump.
Rice exports in the first quarter of 2026 were sluggish, with revenue reaching around US$200 million. A primary cause is the lower demand of the Philippines, the province’s largest market, following policy adjustments and stricter sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) certifications. Meanwhile, soaring logistics and insurance costs have slowed down deliveries to the Middle East and African markets.
To solve this matter, provincial authorities are coordinating 22 licensed exporters and 26 warehouse facilities to streamline procurement and minimize intermediaries. The province is also accelerating its long-term restructuring strategy, pivoting toward high-quality, low-emission rice production under the Mekong Delta’s one-million-hectare project.
By prioritizing traceable, high-value varieties and diversifying export markets through free trade agreements (FTAs) like the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), Dong Thap aims to enhance the sustainable value of its rice sector and shield farmers from global market volatility.
