Vietnam to Proactively Reduce Rice Exports from 2026: What This Means for the Global Market

Vietnam is set to proactively reduce its rice export volume starting in 2026, marking a strategic shift for one of the world’s leading rice exporters.

According to Đỗ Hà Nam, Chairman of the Vietnam Food Association (VFA), Vietnam plans to export approximately seven million tonnes of rice in 2026, down from eight million tonnes in the previous year, with a long-term goal of reducing exports to four million tonnes by 2030.

Why Is Vietnam Reducing Rice Exports?

This move is not solely a response to short-term market conditions. Instead, it reflects a broader transformation of Vietnam’s rice industry under Decision 583, issued by the Prime Minister in May 2023.

Mr. Nam highlighted that global rice supply is currently in surplus, putting pressure on prices and exporters worldwide. In this context, Vietnam aims to shift away from volume-driven exports and focus on:

• Improving rice quality
• Increasing value per tonne
• Targeting higher-end market segments

Challenges in the 2026 Rice Export Landscape

The rice export outlook for 2026 remains challenging. In January alone, Vietnam exported around 250,000 tonnes of rice to the Philippines. However, prices remained relatively stable due to:

• High carryover stocks from the previous year
• Import quota mechanisms imposed by key markets such as the Philippines

These factors have made it more difficult for Vietnamese exporters to ship large volumes, particularly during peak harvest periods like the Winter-Spring season.

Policy Support for Farmers and Exporters

To address pricing pressure during the upcoming Winter-Spring harvest, Mr. Nam emphasized the need for stronger policy coordination. Suggested measures include:

• Creating favourable conditions for temporary rice storage during harvest season
• Promoting government-to-government (G2G) contracts with markets such as Ghana and Singapore

These initiatives aim to stabilize prices for farmers while maintaining Vietnam’s export presence in strategic markets.

A Look Back: Vietnam’s Rice Export Performance

Vietnam’s rice exports have shown significant fluctuations in recent years:

• 2024: 9.2 million tonnes, generating US$5.8 billion
• 2025: 8 million tonnes, generating US$4.1 billion

The planned reduction from 2026 onward reflects a deliberate move toward sustainability and long-term value creation rather than short-term volume growth.

What This Means for Buyers and Partners

For global buyers and supply-chain partners, Vietnam’s strategy signals a future where:

• Rice supply becomes more selective
• Quality and compliance play a larger role
• Efficient execution and planning are increasingly important during peak seasons

CAM RICE Perspective

At CAM RICE, we closely monitor policy shifts and market movements within Vietnam’s rice industry. As export volumes become more selective, process efficiency and coordination across the supply chain will be key to maintaining competitive pricing and reliable delivery.

Our streamlined export process focuses on minimizing handovers, improving execution speed, and supporting partners during peak demand periods - especially in critical seasons such as Winter–Spring.