Up and down with the market waves

Rice prices in the Mekong Delta region fluctuated today, March 16th. Over the past week, rice prices have been unstable, with fresh paddy prices rising and falling in opposite directions.

Today, March 16, 2025, rice prices in the Mekong Delta region are fluctuating but not significantly. Specifically, according to updates from the Department of Agriculture and Environment of An Giang province, both fresh paddy and milled rice prices remain similar to yesterday.

Giá lúa gạo tuần qua: Nhấp nhô theo sóng thị trường

Rice prices today, March 16th, and over the past week: Fresh paddy prices fluctuated in opposite directions, while milled rice remained relatively stable. Photo: Thanh Minh.

Meanwhile, looking back at the past week, the price of some fresh rice increased slightly at the beginning of the week, remained stable in the middle of the week, then reversed to a slight decrease, and finally stabilized at the end of the week. Over the week, the price of fresh rice increased by a total of 150 VND/kg.

According to updates from the Department of Agriculture and Environment of An Giang province, the current prices for fresh Dai Thom 8 rice range from 6,400 to 6,600 VND/kg; OM 18 rice ranges from 6,400 to 6,650 VND/kg; OM 5451 rice ranges from 5,700 to 5,800 VND/kg; OM 380 rice ranges from 5,200 to 5,400 VND/kg; IR 50404 rice ranges from 5,500 to 5,600 VND/kg; and Nang Hoa 9 rice ranges from 6,300 to 6,500 VND/kg.

Observations in many localities today indicate limited supply and slow new trading transactions. In Dong Thap , trading is sparse in fields with three harvests per year, and rice prices remain stable. In An Giang, supply is consistent in Chau Thanh - Thoai Son, new rice transactions are slow, and rice prices are stable.

In Soc Trang, farmers are offering firm prices, but traders are offering low prices, resulting in slow new transactions. In Long An, prices are trending slightly downward, and new transactions are also slow.

Regarding rice, prices of raw and finished rice remained relatively stable this week. However, some export rice varieties saw a slight price increase in the middle of the week, then stabilized and closed at the end of the week.

According to updates from the Department of Agriculture and Environment of An Giang province, the current prices for raw OM 380 rice range from 7,800 to 7,900 VND/kg; raw IR 504 rice ranges from 8,150 to 8,200 VND/kg; raw 5451 rice ranges from 8,500 to 8,600 VND/kg; finished OM 380 rice ranges from 8,800 to 9,000 VND/kg; and finished IR 504 rice ranges from 9,500 to 9,700 VND/kg.

Regarding by-products, prices fluctuate between 7,300 and 10,000 VND/kg. Currently, the price of fragrant broken rice ranges from 7,100 to 7,300 VND/kg; grade 2 broken rice ranges from 6,800 to 6,900 VND/kg; and the price of bran ranges from 9,000 to 10,000 VND/kg, compared to the end of last week.

According to reports from various localities today, rice supplies are moderate, and prices remain stable. In An Giang, supplies are low, and prices are stable. In Lap Vo (Dong Thap), supplies are mixed with vegetables, and prices are firm. In Sa Dec (Dong Thap), supplies are low, and prices for all types of rice are stable.

At Sa Dec market (Dong Thap province), the quantity is small, warehouses buy sporadically, and the prices of various types of rice are relatively stable. At An Cu (Cai Be district, Tien Giang province), the quantity is moderate, and prices are stable.

At retail markets, rice prices remained unchanged compared to the weekend. Currently, Nang Nhen rice is listed highest at 28,000 VND/kg; regular rice fluctuates between 15,000 and 16,000 VND/kg; long-grain Thai fragrant rice ranges from 20,000 to 22,000 VND/kg; Huong Lai rice is 22,000 VND/kg; Jasmine fragrant rice ranges from 18,000 to 20,000 VND/kg; Nang Hoa rice is at 22,000 VND/kg; Taiwanese fragrant rice is 21,000 VND/kg; common white rice is at 17,000 VND/kg; regular Soc rice fluctuates around 18,000 VND/kg; Soc Thai rice is 21,000 VND/kg; and Japanese rice is 22,000 VND/kg.

On the export market, Vietnam's rice export prices remained stable today compared to yesterday. According to the Vietnam Food Association (VFA), the current price for 5% broken rice is $391/ton; 25% broken rice is $365/ton; and 100% broken rice is $307/ton.

According to information from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and the Ministry of Industry and Trade, in February 2025, Vietnam exported approximately 560,000 tons of rice with a value of US$288.2 million. This brings the total volume and value of rice exports in the first two months of 2025 to 1.1 million tons and US$613 million, an increase of 5.9% in volume but a decrease of 13.6% in value compared to the same period in 2024.

In mid-March, export rice prices continued to fall sharply, reaching only 307-365 USD per ton. Major markets such as the Philippines, Ivory Coast, and Ghana remain the main customers for Vietnamese rice. Compared to the same period last year, the value of rice exports to the Philippines in January 2025 decreased by 35.5%, while exports to Ivory Coast increased 8.6 times, and exports to Ghana increased 4.1 times.

Agricultural experts believe the global rice market has just gone through a period of slower trading compared to the annual cycle. The reversal in domestic and export rice prices from the end of 2024 is attributed to oversupply in the market.

To enhance export capacity and value, the domestic rice industry needs to organize production effectively, ensure rice quality, maintain orders, and secure export markets. At the same time, the rice industry needs to proactively develop export plans that are adaptable to fluctuating market conditions.

In addition, domestic businesses need to proactively diversify their markets, increasing rice exports to new markets such as Europe, the US, Japan, the Middle East, West Asia, and Africa... At the same time, they should take advantage of free trade agreements to both benefit from tariff preferences and conquer and increase rice exports to new markets.

Rice price list today, March 16, 2025

Rice variety	Unit of measurement	Trader's purchase price (VND)	Increase/Decrease compared to yesterday (VND)
Fragrant Pavilion 8	kg	6,400 - 6,600	But
OM 18	kg	6,400 - 6,650	But
IR 504	kg	5,500 - 5,600	But
OM 5451	kg	5,700 - 5,800	But
Flower Girl 9	kg	6,300 - 6,500	But
OM 380	kg	5,200 - 5,400	But
IR 504 raw rice	kg	8,150-8,200	But
TP 504 Rice	kg	9,500-9,700	But
OM 380 raw rice	kg	7,900-8,000	But
TP OM 380 Rice	kg	7,800-7,900	But
OM 18 raw rice	kg	9,300-9,500	But
NL 5451 Rice	kg	8,500-8,600	But