Vietnam’s rice exports at a standstill
Vietnam is facing dual difficulties in exporting rice as demand from loyal markets has been lower than expected, while the price has been decreasing in the world market.
The latest report of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) showed that Vietnam exported 3.37 million tons of rice in the first eight months of the year, worth US$1.51 billion, a decrease of 16.6% in volume and 13.1% in value compared with the same period last year.
The average export price in the first seven months of the year was US$450 per ton, a slight increase of 4.95% in comparison with the same period last year.
China remained the biggest buyer in the first seven months, buying 36% of total exports.
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However, the export volume to the market was 1.04 million tons only, worth US$476 million, which represented 21.6% in volume and 11.9% in value compared with the same period last year.
The exports to other markets were also unsatisfactory: exports to the Philippines were down by 66.4%, Malaysia 54.4%, Singapore 36.3% and the US 37.6%.
Only Indonesia, the second largest buyer, imported more rice from Vietnam. In the first seven months of the year, Vietnam exported 353,000 tons, worth US$140.4 million to the market, up by 25.5 times in quantity and 26.8 times in value.
However, the increase could not offset the decrease in exports to other markets.
MARD said that Vietnam’s rice exports have decreased sharply because China continues tightening rice imports across the border gates and cracking down on smuggling.
Meanwhile, Huynh The Nang, chair of the Vietnam Food Association (VFA), said at a recent meeting with MARD’s leaders that the Vietnam-China protocol on phytosanitary requirements on Vietnam’s rice and bran exports to China cannot be realized, because China has not recognized any Vietnamese inspection company.
Also, according to Nang, high-end rice exports, especially exports to markets with high technical barriers, has seen a setback.
In 2014, Vietnam exported 70,000 tons of high-end products, while Thailand exported 400,000 tons. But the figure dropped to 44,000 tons in 2015, while Thailand’s exports exceeded 400,000 tons.
As for the EU market, Vietnam’s exports to the market have been decreasing in recent years, from 24,000 tons in 2013 to 20,000 tons in 2014 and 18,000 tons in 2015.
Under the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), which takes effect in 2018, Vietnam would be able to export 100,000 tons of rice every year to the EU at the preferential tax rate of 0%, which is four times higher than the current quota.
