HCMC – Vietnam exported 3.3 million tons of rice worth US$1.57 billion in the first four months of 2026, down 2.3% in volume and 11.1% in value from a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.
The average export price was around US$468.4 per ton, down 9% year-on-year, contributing to the sharper drop in export value.
Rice exports in April alone reached an estimated 1.1 million tons valued at US$492.7 million, bringing the cumulative total since the start of the year to 3.3 million tons.
Domestic paddy prices fluctuated during the period, falling sharply during the harvest before rebounding within a short time, which made life difficult for farmers and exporters.
On production, the ministry estimated the winter-spring rice crop area at 2.93 million hectares, with 1.67 million hectares harvested and output reaching 11.5 million tons by the end of April. The summer-autumn crop covered about 355,500 hectares.
The Philippines remained the largest export market, accounting for 48.5% of total shipments. China and Ghana followed with respective shares of 15.6% and 7%.
Export value to the Philippines rose 6.7% from a year earlier, while shipments to China increased 44.4%. In contrast, exports to Ghana declined 28.7%, and shipments to Côte d’Ivoire plunged 59.6%.
Globally, prices showed mixed movements. India’s 5% broken rice was quoted at about US$353 per ton in late April, up from previous weeks but down US$27 from a year earlier, according to the Vietnam Food Association.
Thailand’s 5% broken rice stood at around US$386 per ton, down US$2 week-on-week and US$14 year-on-year. Some exporters suspended price offers due to uncertainty over future delivery prices.
