Vietnam has surpassed Thailand to become the world’s second-largest rice exporter in the first six months of the year. This achievement is increasingly reflecting the shift from “exporting in large quantity” to “exporting high value,” creating a clear competitive advantage.
According to data from the Industrial and Trade Information Center (Ministry of Industry and Trade), in the first half of 2025, the average export price of Vietnamese rice decreased by 18.4% compared to the same period in 2024. This resulted in export turnover reaching only 2.44 billion USD, a decrease of 15.4% compared to the same period last year.
However, rice export output still increased. The Vietnam Food Association (VFA) reports that in the first seven months of 2025, Vietnam exported 5.5 million tons of rice, valued at 2.81 billion USD, representing a 3.1% increase in volume but a 15.9% decrease in value. In July 2025 alone, rice exports reached 750,000 tons, bringing in 366.1 million USD.
While Vietnam maintained its growth momentum in rice production and exports, Thailand’s rice exports in 2024 recorded a significant decline.
Vietnam rises to second in the world for rice exports.
According to the Thai Ministry of Commerce, in the first six months of this year, Thailand’s rice exports decreased by over 27% compared to the same period last year, reaching only 3.73 million tons (during the same period, Vietnam exported over 4.7 million tons). Thus, now, Thailand is behind Vietnam in rice exports.
Vietnam’s rice exports are increasing while many countries are experiencing a decline. The reason is that Vietnamese rice has created a separate market, thanks to varieties like OM, DT8, or ST. These are rice products that only Vietnam has for export. These types of rice are favored by many countries around the world, especially the Philippines.
Additionally, African markets are increasing their imports of Vietnamese rice. In just the first six months of 2025, the volume of rice exported to this region exceeded 1 million tons and continues to go up, especially for high-quality rice such as ST, DT8, and OM. Even supply has not been able to meet demand for some time.
The VFA Chairman predicts that in 2025, Vietnam may export about 8.8 million tons of rice, maintaining its position as the world’s second-largest rice exporter.
Currently, domestic businesses are boosting exports to Africa, a potential market but with slow payments and high risks. In the long run, the chairman believes it’s necessary to develop high-quality rice varieties and establish specialized cultivation zones. Accordingly, he requested the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and relevant agencies to pay attention and provide support to make good use of this opportunity, while also expanding the market to Japan, South Korea, and Africa.