Viet Nam surpassed Thailand to become the world's second-largest rice exporter in the first half of 2025, with India maintaining its dominant position as the global leader according to the Thai Rice Exporters Association.
From January to June, India exported 11.68 million metric tons of rice with a 36.5 percent year-on-year increase, followed by Viet Nam with 4.72 million metric tons (up 3.5 percent), while Thailand dropped to third place with 3.73 million metric tons, representing a significant 27.3 percent decline.
Charoen Laothamatas, president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, reported Thailand's rice export value fell 36.4 percent to 75.57 billion baht ($2.3 billion) in the first half, with concerns about oversupply and potential market share losses to Vietnamese varieties like ST21.
Viet Nam's Ministry of Agriculture and Environment data shows the country exported 5.5 million metric tons worth $2.81 billion in the first seven months, though average export prices dropped 18.4 percent to $514 per metric ton due to global price pressures.
Do Ha Nam, chairman of the Vietnam Food Association, noted that Vietnamese rice remains favored in key markets including the Philippines, Africa, and China, with Vietnam maintaining higher average export prices of $517 per metric ton compared to most competitors' $400 average.
