Vietnam’s rice exports are projected to drop 11.5 percent this year to around 8 million metric tons, largely due to a halt in shipments to the Philippines after Manila imposed a rice import ban in September.
The Philippines, Vietnam’s largest rice market, saw shipments fall 18.5 percent in the first ten months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.
Vietnam Food Association chairman Do Ha Nam said the ban could be extended, prompting the country to seek alternative markets and focus on higher-quality rice exports.
Despite the decline, global demand for rice remains strong, and Vietnam aims to maintain annual exports of 8–9 million tons.
In the long term, the government plans to reduce rice exports and repurpose farmland for other crops, with some Mekong Delta farmers already switching to shrimp farming and alternative crops due to climate change.
Source: PhilNews24 | December 3, 2025
