(GLO) – Vietnam continues to assert its position on the world rice map by surpassing Thailand and maintaining its position as the world’s second-largest rice exporter, after India.

According to the latest update in the November report from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Vietnam’s rice exports in 2026 are projected to exceed 8 million tons. Notably, this outlook is expected to continue into 2027, amidst concerns that major competitors India and Thailand may experience a decline in exports due to the El Niño phenomenon.

Vietnam continues to assert its position on the world rice map, surpassing Thailand to maintain its status as the world’s second-largest rice exporter.

As of the end of September 2026, Vietnam exported approximately 6.4 million tons of rice, worth $3.1 billion. Meanwhile, according to the Thai Ministry of Commerce, Thailand exported nearly 5 million tons, valued at $2.9 billion. Thus, Vietnam’s rice exports were about 1.4 million tons higher than Thailand’s.

By the end of October, Vietnam’s rice export volume continued to increase to approximately 6.8 million tons. With the current trading momentum, the possibility of exceeding 8 million tons in exports for the whole of 2026 is considered positive.

Meanwhile, the USDA forecasts a 200,000-ton decrease in Thai rice exports, to 6.8 million tons. India – the world’s leading rice exporter – is also projected to see a 500,000-ton decrease, to approximately 22.5 million tons, equivalent to 39% of total global rice exports.

This development demonstrates Vietnam’s increasingly strengthened position in the international food market. In particular, the demand for food stockpiling is rising in many countries due to concerns about climate change, including El Niño, and its potential impact on agricultural production.

One of the key drivers of Vietnam’s rice exports is demand from the Philippines – its largest consumer market. This country is increasing imports to build up reserves and prepare for potential supply shortages due to the impact of El Niño.

In addition, China has emerged as a promising market. In the first eight months of 2026, the country spent nearly $505 million to import more than 1 million tons of Vietnamese rice, a significant increase compared to the same period the previous year.

According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the Philippines accounted for 40.9% of Vietnam’s rice export market share in the first eight months of the year, while China accounted for approximately 17.4%.

However, the fact that over 64% of rice exports are concentrated in these two markets also necessitates diversifying partners to avoid over-reliance on a few key markets.

In addition to increasing production volume, the Vietnamese rice industry is gradually shifting towards high-quality, fragrant, and specialty rice segments to enhance export value.

According to data released by the Vietnam Food Association (VFA) in October 2026, fragrant rice and high-quality rice accounted for nearly 68% of total rice exports, while common white rice accounted for over 19%.

Notably, approximately 70,000 tons of rice under the Sustainable Development Project for 1 million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice in the Mekong Delta have been granted the “Green Vietnamese Rice with Low Emissions” label.

This is considered an important step in the process of building a Vietnamese rice brand associated with quality standards and environmentally friendly production.

Published Date: November 12, 2026