Viet Nam earned US$1.1 billion by exporting 2.16 million tonnes of rice between January and April this year, up 35.7 per cent in value and 21.7 per cent in volume.

China was the main importer, occupying 29.1 per cent of the market share, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The average export price of rice showed a year-on-year increase of 15 per cent to touch $501 per tonne due to better quality.

High-quality rice comprised up to 81 per cent of the rice export volume, the ministry said, predicting that the global rice market will see a decrease in supply and increase in demand in the coming time.

In 2018, Viet Nam is expected to ship 6.5 million tonnes of rice abroad, up by 700,000 tonnes compared to 2017.

According to Viet Nam’s Rice Market Development Strategy from 2017 to 2020 with a vision to 2030, one of the country’s goals is to gradually reduce the rice export volume while increasing the value of exported rice.

Vietnamese rice is currently exported to over 130 markets worldwide. — VNS