According to customs statistics, in 2022, Vietnam's rice export turnover reached 7.1 million tons with a value of USD 3.46 billion, an increase of 13.8% in volume and an increase of 5.1% in turnover compared to the same period in 2021. The average export price reached USD 486.2/ton, a decrease of 7.7% compared to the average level in 2021.

Notably, rice exports in 2022 recorded growth in all markets. In which, the traditional and key consumption markets continue to hold such as the Philippines, China, Africa, and Cuba. Asia continues to be the largest regional export market in 2022, reaching 4.96 million tons, accounting for nearly 71% of total exports, an increase of 15.5% compared to 2021. Africa is the second largest regional export market, reaching nearly 1.2 million tons, accounting for 17.8% of total exports, a slight increase of 0.2% compared to 2021.

In particular, although accounting for only a small proportion of about 2.45% of the total export volume, the European market area had a strong growth of 90.7% compared to 2021, reaching 172.2 thousand tons (high added value because this is the market for high quality fragrant rice products of Vietnam).

Rice exports to the EU market increased sharply, reaching 94,510 tons of rice and exceeding the annual quota of 80,000 tons of rice given by the EU to Vietnam under the commitments from the EVFTA Agreement. This shows that the quality of Vietnam's rice is increasing and meets the strict requirements of fastidious markets, and shows that traders make good use of the Agreement's incentives.

The Philippines market continues to be Vietnam's largest rice import market, accounting for nearly 45.2% of the total export volume and 43.2% of the country's total rice export turnover in 2022, equivalent to an export volume of nearly 3.18 million tons with a value of more than USD 1.49 billion, an increase of 28.8% in volume and an increase of 19% in turnover compared to 2021. For the first time, Vietnam's rice exports to the Philippines market reached a record of 3.2 million tons.

The Chinese market ranked second, accounting for more than 11.8% of the total volume and 12.5% of Vietnam's total export turnover, equivalent to 834.2 thousand tons with a value of USD 432.3 million, a decrease of 21.3% in volume and a decrease of 17.3% in value compared to 2021.

The Ivory Coast market ranked third, accounting for 9.4% of the total volume and 8.5% of the country's total rice export turnover, equivalent to 657.1 thousand tons with a value of USD 294.6 million, an increase of nearly 9.4% in volume and an increase of nearly 35% in turnover compared to 2021.

Regarding export categories, white rice usually still accounts for a large proportion of 48.8% of total exports, equivalent to 3.43 million tons, an increase of 34% compared to 2021; followed by fragrant rice, accounting for 31.9% of total exports, equivalent to 2.24 million tons, an increase of 6.25% compared to 2021; broken rice ranked third with an export volume of 600 thousand tons, accounting for 8.5% of total exports, a decrease of 15.9% compared to 2021; Glutinous rice has an export turnover of about 399 thousand tons, accounting for about 5.7% of the total export volume, a decrease of 38% compared to 2021.

Meanwhile, rice fortified with micronutrients has a very modest export volume, accounting for about 0.2%, equivalent to 15.1 thousand tons, partly because traders have not focused on the market segment that has demand for this category.

Kylie Nguyen