Vietnam's biggest rice importers buying more Vietnamese rice

Indonesia’s National Logistics Agency has announced the bid for 500,000 tons of imported rice, including 300,000 tons for supplies from Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar and 200,000 tons from Pakistan.

The winning bidder will deliver the goods to Indonesia before Dec. 25. Due to the continuous increase in purchasing, Indonesia has surpassed China to become Vietnam’s second biggest rice importer.

Indonesia imported 871,000 tons of rice from Vietnam in the first nine months of this year, up 16 times against the same period last year.

The Philippines, Vietnam’s biggest rice importer, has also increased its purchases again after nearly a month of suspension due to its imposition of the ceiling price on domestic rice.

On Oct. 4, the Philippines lifted the ceiling price for conventionally milled and well-milled rice.

In the first nine months, Vietnam’s rice exports to the Philippines reached 2.4 million tons worth nearly $1.5 billion, an increase of 20% in turnover.

China, Vietnam’s third biggest rice importer, is also increasing its purchases of sticky rice and ST 24 and 25 rice from Vietnam in October.

China imported 850,000 tons of Vietnamese rice in the first nine months, up 35%.

In addition to the above major markets, Vietnam’s rice exports to Ghana, Turkey, and Chile rose from 46% to several dozen times over the same period last year.

On Oct. 9, the prices of Vietnamese 5% broken rice were $600-613 per ton, and those of fragrant rice were $640-650 per ton, $30 higher than Thai rice and $65 higher than Pakistani rice.

Vietnam exported 6.35 million tons of rice totaling $3.5 billion in the first nine months, up 18% and 34% respectively.