Packing rice at Vietnam Southern Food Corp (Vinafood 2). Việt Nam’s rice export is expected to achieve its target of 6.3 million tonnes worth US$3.2 billion this year. —VNA/VNS Photo Vũ Sinh

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam is expected to achieve its rice export target of 6.3 million tonnes worth US$3.2 billion this year due to high global demand and an increase in export prices.

Statistics from the General Department of Vietnam Customs showed the country exported 593,600 tonnes of rice in September, worth over $293.1 million, increasing by 19 per cent in volume and 20.5 per cent in value compared to last year’s figures.

Việt Nam shipped abroad 4.57 million tonnes of rice worth over $2.41 billion during the nine-month period, a drop of 8.3 per cent in volume and 1.2 per cent in value year-on-year.

“The rice export has resumed since September despite the fact that social distancing is still being applied in many southern provinces and cities,” said Nguyễn Quốc Toản, General Director of the Agro Processing and Market Development Authority under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Nguyễn Thanh Phong, Director of Vạn Lợi Company, attributed the increase in the Vietnamese rice export prices to the fact that the Government has boosted its purchase for national reserves, along with the rising demand in the global market since the beginning of September.

Other insiders also expressed their optimism as foreign importers allow the resumption of rice trading once the COVID-19 pandemic is put under control.

Some major rice exporters are predicted to increase their rice exports in the last months of this year and the first half of 2022, they said. 

The export prices of Việt Nam’s 5-per cent broken rice soared to the highest level over the past three months, according to the Việt Nam Food Association.

The country’s five-per cent broken rice is currently sold at between $433 and $437 per tonne, surpassing that of other competitors such as Thailand, India and Pakistan.

Specifically, the prices of Vietnamese rice were $49, $68 and $55 higher than that of Thailand, India and Pakistan, respectively.

In mid-August, the export price of Việt Nam’s 5-per cent broken rice was offered at $393-307, $8 lower than the Thai product. — VNS