VOV.VN – The Vietnam Trade Office in the Philippines has forecast that the Philippines’ rice import demand this year will remain high and Vietnam will continue to be its leading rice exporter.

According to the trade office, the Philippines has long been a traditional and strategic market for Vietnam’s rice exports, accounting for 80–85% of its rice imports. Vietnamese rice has consistently held a 40–45% share of its total rice export turnover in the Philippines, with volumes exceeding 3–4 million tonnes annually:

It is projected that this year Vietnam will likely export around 4.35 million tonnes of rice to the Philippines. The appeal of Vietnamese rice stems from its suitable grade, quality, and price, allowing it to be competitive and suitable for consumer tastes whilst meeting the diverse needs of Filipino consumers, especially the large middle- and low-income population.

Although the Philippines has been making efforts to diversify its supply sources, Vietnamese rice will continue to stand firm in the Philippine market thanks to its competitive pricing, consistent quality, stable supply and logistics, and the enduring trade relationship between the two countries’ enterprises.

Earlier this year, in a bid to control and reduce retail rice prices, the Philippine Government asked import enterprises to implement the “Maximum Suggested Retail Price” policy which applies a ceiling price of no more than 58 pesos per kg for retail rice.

While demand will stay high due to the Philippines’ limited domestic production capacity, such policies could lead to concerns among Philippine importers regarding profit margins, possibly affecting Vietnamese exports. There’s also a chance the Philippines may seek alternative suppliers to reduce dependence on Vietnam.

To maintain Vietnam’s strong position in the Philippine market, the trade official suggested that rice exporters work closely with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Vietnam Trade Office in the Philippines on trade promotion and marketing initiatives.

The rice exporters were advised to ensure stable supply and improve rice quality to enhance export value, while tapping into the larger demand for medium- and low-grade rice that suits the majority of the Filipino population.

Published Date: April 16, 2025