According to the Thai Rice Exporters Association, in the first six months of 2025, India maintained its position as the world’s No. 1 rice exporter with 11.68 million tons, an increase of 36.5% compared to the same period last year.
Meanwhile, Thailand exported 3.73 million tons, a decrease of 27.3% compared to the same period last year. The value of Thailand’s rice exports was only about 75.57 billion baht (2.34 billion USD), a sharp decrease of 36.4% compared to the same period in 2024.
This decline has led to Thailand losing its position as the second-largest rice exporter in the world.
Vietnam rises to the second position in rice exports.
The Thai Rice Exporters Association predicts that in July 2025, the country will export more than 600,000 tons of rice. The large quantity of rice exports is due to several countries, such as Iraq, China, Japan, and some African nations, increasing their rice orders because of the price drop.
While Thailand’s market share in rice exports decreased in the first half of 2025, Vietnam emerged as a bright spot. In the first half of the year, Vietnam exported 4.72 million tons, an increase of 3.6% compared to the same period last year. This has helped Vietnam surpass Thailand, rising to the second position in the rankings.
According to the Customs Department, in the past 6 months, rice exports have brought Vietnam 2.44 billion USD. The average export price of rice in the first six months of the year was 517 USD/ton.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment reported that rice exports in July 2025 are estimated to reach 750,000 tons, equivalent to 366.1 million USD. In the first seven months of the year, Vietnam has exported about 5.5 million tons of rice, worth 2.81 billion USD. The average export price was only about 514 USD/ton.
The Philippines continues to be the largest rice-consuming market for Vietnam, accounting for 42.6% of the total export turnover. Ivory Coast and Ghana are the next two major markets, with respective market shares of 10.7% and 10.5%. Among the top 15 largest rice export markets, the highest increase in rice export value was in the Bangladesh market, with a rise of 188.2 times.
Vietnamese rice is chosen by many countries because of a diverse range of products. In addition, the advantages in variety and price are also among the factors that help Vietnamese rice score points with other countries.
Vietnam’s goal for 2025 is to export 7.5 million tons of rice. However, with the current growth rate, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) forecasts that Vietnam’s rice exports this year could reach 7.9 million tons, surpassing Thailand by about 1 million tons.
Rice plays an important role in feeding people. According to statistics from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), nearly half of the world’s population uses rice as their main source of food, providing the basic energy needed to survive.
About 500 million tons of rice are produced annually. In many countries, rice serves as the main source of calories.