HCMC – A total of 152 enterprises nationwide had qualified for rice export as of April 28, six fewer than the number announced in February, reported the Agency of Foreign Trade.
HCMC led the country with 35 rice export firms, followed by Can Tho with 33, Long An with 20, while Dong Thap, An Giang, and Hanoi had 14, 13, and 11 enterprises, respectively.
Some localities, including Bac Lieu, Binh Dinh, Danang, Ha Nam, Ha Tinh, Hau Giang, Nghe An, Tay Ninh, and Hue, had only one rice exporter each.
Previously, the Ministry of Industry and Trade announced that 158 enterprises nationwide had qualified for rice export as of February 6.
According to the General Department of Vietnam Customs, the country exported nearly 2.31 million tons of rice in the first three months of this year, earning US$1.21 billion, up 5.82% in volume but down 15.5% in value year-on-year.
The average export price stood at around US$522 per ton, down 20.18%.
The Vietnam Food Association (VFA) has forecast that rice exports in 2025 could reach only 7.5 million tons, down from over nine million tons in 2024. Despite the lower volume, export value could still rise if Vietnam boosts shipments of fragrant rice varieties, such as ST24, ST25, and other high-quality rice products.
Experts said that to ensure sustainable rice exports, Vietnam needs to improve quality, diversify its product range, increase the production of fragrant rice, adopt sustainable farming practices, and tighten controls on chemical residues.
