Vietnam, the world’s third-largest rice exporter, aims to ship seven million metric tons of the grain abroad this year given increasing demands on the global market, according to Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan.

Last year, the country’s rice export hit a 10-year high of 7.1 million metric tons, generating US$3.45 billion in revenue, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Hoan stated that the Southeast Asian country’s collective rice expanse in 2023 is approximately 7.1 million hectares. 

The average yield stands at 60.7 quintals per hectare, projecting an output of over 43.1 million metric tons of unhusked rice, up approximately 452,000 metric tons in comparison to 2022.

The minister said that the quantity of rice required to guarantee food stability for the nation’s population of 100 million people and satisfy other domestic consumption is roughly 29.5 million metric tons.

This means Vietnam has about 13.6 million metric tons of unhusked rice, corresponding to a potential seven million metric tons of rice, available for export.

Apart from its domestic rice production, Vietnam also engages in annual imports. 

Hoan mentioned the importation of more than one million metric tons from Cambodia annually as a contingency measure when required.

Furthermore, Vietnam also procures rice from India, primarily for food processing and animal feed.

“India’s ban on white rice exports does not significantly affect the rice supply in Vietnam,” the minister said.

In addition to rice, Vietnam generates an annual average of seven million metric tons of fresh meat, 10 million metric tons of seafood, and tens of millions of tons of vegetables and fruits.

“In overall terms, food security is assured on a national scale,” he affirmed.

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