Rice exports continue to thrive.

Rice exports increased in both volume and price.

According to the latest figures from the General Department of Customs, rice exports in the first five months of 2023 reached 3.62 million tons, a significant increase compared to the same period in previous years (2.767 million tons in 2022, 2.591 million tons in 2021, 2.756 million tons in 2019, and 2.945 million tons in 2018...).

Rice exports showed positive signs in the first five months of 2023.

The export price per ton in the first five months of this year increased significantly compared to the same period in previous years, reaching US$529.4/ton (US$489/ton in 2022, US$429.1 in 2019, and US$505.1 in 2018). The increase in price is due to increased global demand, the Russia-Ukraine conflict driving up food prices, and improvements in the quality of Vietnamese rice.

Rice export turnover reached its highest level compared to the same period in many years (US$1.906 billion compared to US$1.353 billion in 2022, US$1.406 billion in 2021, US$1.185 billion in 2019, US$1.488 billion in 2018...). The year-on-year increase in these 5 months was exceptionally high (up to US$563 million) due to increased volume, higher prices, and a higher quality rice composition.

Mr. Pham Thai Binh, General Director of Trung An High-Tech Agriculture Joint Stock Company, said that in April, the company also won a bid to export 11,347 tons of long-grain brown rice to the South Korean market at a fairly good price, nearly 600 USD/ton.

Thus, from the beginning of the year until now, the company has exported more than 5,000 tons of rice to the European market; approximately 32,000 tons of rice to South Korea; and also exported to markets such as the Middle East, Malaysia, China, etc.

Rice exported to Europe consists of fragrant rice varieties, with prices ranging from a high of $1,250 per ton to a low of $700 per ton. In the South Korean market, export prices also reached $595 per ton, a relatively high price in recent years.

According to the Vietnam Food Association, the prices of many types of Vietnamese rice remain higher than those of Thailand and India. Specifically, the price of 5% broken rice from Vietnam in the first weeks of June 2023 reached approximately US$498/ton, while the prices of rice from Thailand and India were US$492/ton and US$453/ton respectively. Vietnamese 25% broken rice also recorded a price of US$478/ton, about US$10/ton higher than Thailand and about US$50/ton higher than India.

Notably, while Vietnamese rice prices generally remain stable at high levels, the prices of Thai and Indian rice fluctuate daily. This suggests that the recent stable increase in Vietnamese rice prices is partly due to increased global demand, but also confirms the growing quality and reputation of Vietnamese rice across various market segments.

It is projected that in 2023, the total rice production in the Mekong Delta region will still reach over 24 million tons. This will be a major source of commercial rice for processing and export businesses.

Facilitating rice exports

In order to facilitate the promotion of rice exports, Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai recently signed Decision No. 583/QD-TTg approving the Strategy for the Development of Vietnam's Rice Export Market until 2030 (the Strategy).

The overall objective of the Strategy is to develop diversified rice export markets with a reasonable, stable, sustainable, and efficient scale, market structure, and export product structure; to consolidate traditional and key export markets and develop new, potential export markets, including those with which Vietnam has signed free trade agreements (FTAs); and to increase Vietnam's rice market share in export markets, especially in developed countries.

Linking export markets with domestic production along the value chain, ensuring the quality and food safety of exported rice; strengthening the distribution of Vietnamese rice and processed rice products directly in various markets; exporting high-quality and high-value rice and processed rice products, increasing value, ensuring sustainable export efficiency, and affirming the reputation and brand of Vietnamese rice.

The specific goal is to increase added value, enhance the value of exported rice, and reduce export volume to approximately 4 million tons by 2030, with an equivalent value of about 2.62 billion USD. Due to the reduced volume, the average export growth rate will decrease by about 2.4% during the 2023-2025 period and by about 3.6% during the 2026-2030 period.

During the period 2023-2025, the proportion of low and medium-grade white rice will not exceed 15%; high-grade white rice will account for approximately 20%; fragrant rice, japonica rice, and specialty rice will account for approximately 40%; glutinous rice will account for approximately 20%; high value-added rice products such as nutritional rice, parboiled rice, organic rice, rice flour, processed rice products, rice bran, and some other rice by-products will account for approximately 5%; striving for the proportion of branded exported rice to exceed 20%.

During the period 2026-2030, the proportion of low and medium-grade white rice will not exceed 10%; high-grade white rice will account for approximately 15%; fragrant rice, japonica rice, and specialty rice will account for approximately 45%; glutinous rice will account for approximately 20%; high value-added rice products such as nutritional rice, parboiled rice, organic rice, rice flour, processed rice products, rice bran, and some other rice by-products will account for approximately 10%; and the goal is to achieve a branded rice export rate of over 40%.

In particular, the goal is to achieve approximately 25% of rice exports directly bearing the "Vietnam Rice" brand by 2030. This is key to increasing the export value of rice.

Regarding the ministries and agencies, to create the most favorable conditions for rice export activities, the Ministry of Industry and Trade is coordinating with relevant ministries, agencies, localities, and units to finalize and develop a Decree amending and supplementing Decree No. 107/2018/ND-CP dated August 15, 2018, of the Government on rice export business, in order to complete the legal framework for the mechanism to manage and promote exports.

Simultaneously, we will implement and disseminate the Strategy for the Development of Vietnam's Rice Export Market until 2030. We will continue to closely coordinate with ministries, sectors, the Vietnam Food Association, and rice export businesses in resolving difficulties and obstacles in rice exports to various markets, especially in the context of the increasing trend of technical barriers and food safety and hygiene standards. In particular, we will strengthen communication to raise awareness among businesses so that they fully and clearly understand the regulations of free trade agreements, especially regarding pesticide residue levels, plant quarantine, and traceability.

Source link: https://congthuong.vn/xuat-khau-gao-tiep-tuc-khoi-sac-258609.html