Of the imported volume, 1.14 million tonnes of paddy rice were shipped from Cambodia, which is equivalent to approximately 600,000 tonnes of milled rice.

This marks a significant increase in rice imports, reflecting the growing demand for raw materials in Vietnam’s rice processing industry.

“The import of paddy rice from Cambodia clearly adds pressure to the domestic market, leading to an abundant supply and lower prices, and affecting the market for Vietnamese rice,” said Do Ha Nam, vice chairman of the VFA.

There is no complete data for a year-on-year comparison, but according to estimates from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Vietnam imported around 3 million tonnes of rice in 2024, making it the third largest rice importer in the world, behind only the Philippines and Indonesia.

Many businesses also acknowledged that purchasing rice from Cambodia has been a long-standing practice. At certain times, Cambodian rice imports serve as a supplementary supply, enabling Vietnamese enterprises to boost their trade activities.

Experts also warned that Vietnam is not only importing paddy rice from Cambodia but also importing rice, especially broken rice from India, for processing rice-based products.

With India considering lifting its export ban on broken rice, it is likely that Vietnamese businesses will increase the import of the staple, causing domestic rice prices in Vietnam to continue fluctuating unfavourably.

Meanwhile, Vietnam exported 1.15 million tonnes of rice in the first two months of this year, an increase of 10% compared to the same period last year. However, the average export price dropped by 19%, down to US$553 per tonne.

Notably, the largest consumer market, the Philippines, imported up to 505,000 tonnes, but at the lowest selling price—only around US$450 per tonne, which is US$100 lower than the overall average.

Many businesses said while the Philippines is a key market for Vietnamese rice, the ongoing trend of undercutting prices and excessive price dumping is dragging Vietnamese rice prices down. This is also considered one of the critical factors behind the current price crisis.

Vietnam controls rice production amidst global rice market fluctuations

VOV.VN - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has signed a dispatch on domestic rice market management to ensure a balance between supply and demand for rice in light of domestic and global market developments.