Glutinous rice exports sharply increase

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Glutinous rice was one of two types of rice with increased export volume in 2016. Photo: ST

According to the statistics of the Vietnam Food Association (VFA), the Vietnam rice export in 2016 only reached 4.89 million tons with value of $US 2.2 billion, down by nearly 26% in volume and 21% in value compared to 2015.

About the rice quality in 2016, aromatic rice still accounted for the largest proportion (28.5%) with nearly 1.4 million tons, down by 6% compared to 2015; followed by high grade white rice with 1.05 million tons, accounting for 21.6% of total rice exports, sharply decreasing by 42% compared to 2015. Together with this, medium white rice exports reached 655,000 tons, accounting for 13.4% of the whole sector’s proportion, down by 45% and low grade white rice reached over 355,000 tons, accounting for 7.3% of the whole sector’s proportion, down by 56% compared to 2015.

Notably, glutinous rice exports in 2016 reached 1.02 million tons, accounting for 20.9% of the sector’s export proportion and increasing over 96% compared to 2015. Glutinous rice was also one of two types of rice with export growth in 2016. Accordingly, Japonica rice exports reached 158,000 tons in 2016, accounting for 3.24% of the sector’s export proportion, up by 137 %% compared to 2015.

Besides the sharp increase of export volume, the average export glutinous rice price in 2016 also reached $US 501 per ton, up by $US 36 per ton compared to 2015. This was the rice which had the sharpest increase in export prices compared to other rice types in 2016.

According to classification of the market, Asia remained in the leading position in Vietnam's rice imports in 2016 with a volume of 3.194 million tons, accounting for 65.3% of the sector’s export proportion, down by 34.7% compared to 2015; Europe reached over 82,000 tons, accounting for 1.7% of the sector’s export proportion, down by 25.6%; Africa reached 822,000 tons, accounting for 16.8% the sector’s export proportion, down by 9% compared to 2015. Meanwhile, the rice exports from Vietnam to America in 2016 increased by 7%, reaching more than 472,600 tons, accounting for 9.7% of the sector’s export proportion

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In 2017, rice exports are expected to face difficulties because the market has negative signs. Thus, the VFA recommended that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development should consider to temporarily lay the rice in store for the winter-spring season 2016-2017 to stabilize market prices in accordance with orientation and ensure the minimum benefits for farmers.