Hanoi, January 30, 2026 – The Europe Today: Vietnam is expected to export approximately 7.73 million tonnes of rice in 2026, with the majority of supply coming from the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment reported.
In a recent document submitted to the Ministry of Industry and Trade as a basis for managing rice exports next year, the ministry noted that the country’s total rice planting area fell by around 36,100 hectares to 7.09 million hectares in 2025. Nevertheless, total paddy output is projected to slightly exceed last year’s levels, reaching 45.6 million tonnes, supported by an average yield of 6.14 tonnes per hectare.
The Mekong Delta will remain the country’s key export hub, with rice-growing areas in the region and parts of Tây Ninh Province covering an estimated 3.84 million hectares and producing around 24.34 million tonnes of paddy.
Of the 15.46 million tonnes of marketable paddy in 2026, roughly 7.73 million tonnes of rice will be available for export. High-quality and fragrant rice is expected to account for about 5.8 million tonnes, or 75 per cent of the export volume, while glutinous rice exports are projected at 773,000 tonnes, or 10 per cent, with the remaining 15 per cent primarily earmarked for processing.
Rice shipments in the first half of 2026 are forecast to reach approximately four million tonnes, concentrated in January, March, and April, while exports in the second half of the year are expected to total 3.7 million tonnes, peaking during July, August, and September, coinciding with major harvest periods.
The ministry emphasized the need for stricter inventory reporting and the development of digital monitoring and early warning systems to manage supply and demand risks while ensuring food security. Exporters are also urged to be prepared to supply the domestic market as needed to stabilize prices.
In addition, the ministry recommended strengthening trade promotion, diversifying markets and products, and adopting digital management tools. Coordination with local authorities is encouraged to standardize rice procurement, improve supply chain transparency through clear contracts, require price disclosure by exporters, and prevent price manipulation and hoarding.
Customs data show that Vietnam exported 8.06 million tonnes of rice worth US$4.1 billion in 2025, down 10.8 per cent in volume and 27.6 per cent in value compared with 2024.
