Vietnam 2025 rice exports fall 11% on year amid reduced Philippine buying

Vietnam exported 8.06 million metric tons of rice in 2025, down 11% from a year earlier, according to preliminary data from Vietnam Customs.

Export volumes declined as demand from key destinations weakened in the second half of the year, led by reduced buying from the Philippines, Vietnam's largest rice buyer, the data, released Jan. 6, showed.

In early August, the Philippines, one of the world's largest rice importers, suspended rice imports for 60 days from Sept. 1 to support domestic farmers hurt by falling prices during the harvest season, which was later extended till the end of the year.

With the Philippines planning to reduce rice imports and diversify sourcing in 2026, Vietnamese rice demand may face continued headwinds.

Rice imports by the Philippines from Vietnam in 2025 fell 24% year over year to 3.2 million mt, customs data showed.

Despite the decline, the Philippines remained Vietnam's largest buyer in 2025. Ivory Coast emerged as the second-largest destination, importing 1.05 million mt, up 118% year over year.

Ghana ranked third, importing 919,214 mt of Vietnamese rice, up 50% year over year.

China was another key buyer, importing 747,327 mt of Vietnamese rice in 2025, up significantly by 162% year over year.

According to S&P Global Energy CERA, Vietnam is expected to export 7.7 million mt of rice in the 2025-26 marketing year, up 1.3% year over year.

Platts, part ofS&P Global Energy, assessed Vietnamese 5% white rice at $354/mt FOB on Jan. 8, unchanged day over day, while fragrant 5% rice was assessed at $419/mt FOB, also unchanged over the same period.