Vietnam paddy prices rise as export rice quotes diverge by grade

Fresh paddy strengthens in the Mekong Delta

Vietnam’s rice market showed contrasting movements on August 7, with fresh paddy prices rising in parts of the Mekong Delta even as trading remained slow and some processed-rice and by-product prices weakened. Vietnambiz, citing the An Giang Department of Agriculture and Environment, reported that fresh IR 50404 and OM 5451 paddy each gained 200 dong per kilogram from the previous day, reaching 6,300-6,400 dong per kilogram and 6,700-6,800 dong per kilogram, respectively.

Fresh Dai Thom 8 and OM 18 were both quoted at 6,900-7,000 dong per kilogram, while fresh OM 34 stood at 6,100-6,300 dong per kilogram. A report republished by Bao Moi gave lower ranges for IR 50404 and OM 5451—6,100-6,200 dong and 6,500-6,600 dong per kilogram—and said farmers in An Giang and several other provinces were holding out for higher prices. New purchases were limited, with traders mainly collecting paddy already secured by deposits.

Processed raw-rice assessments also differed between the reports. Vietnambiz said IR 50404 raw rice fell by 50 dong to 9,700-9,800 dong per kilogram, while the Bao Moi report said export-grade IR 504 rose by 50 dong to 9,750-9,850 dong. The reports covered slightly different quotations and market channels. Vietnambiz placed CL 555 at 9,750-9,850 dong per kilogram, while Bao Moi reported the same range after a 50-dong decline.

Export quotations split by grade

Vietnamese export prices moved in different directions by grade. According to the Vietnam Food Association figures carried by Bao Moi, 100% broken fragrant rice rose by $5 per tonne to $367-371 per tonne. Fragrant 5% broken rice was quoted at $500-510 per tonne, while Jasmine rice declined by $5 to $541-545 per tonne.

A separate assessment reported by Vietnambiz put Vietnam’s 5% broken rice at $430-450 per tonne as of August 6, unchanged from the previous week. A Ho Chi Minh City trader said business remained quiet because demand was weak. Differences among the quotations underline the importance of grade, specification and timing when comparing Vietnam’s export offers.

The softer revenue picture is already visible in national trade data. According to General Statistics Office figures cited by Bao Moi, Vietnam exported 5.53 million tonnes of rice during the first seven months of 2026, up 0.5% year on year. Export value, however, fell 7.1% to $2.62 billion, indicating that slightly higher shipment volume did not offset weaker average returns.

Regional competition and proposed price floors

Regional benchmarks were mixed. Vietnambiz, citing Reuters, reported Indian 5% broken parboiled rice at $358-364 per tonne and white 5% broken rice at $357-363. India’s rice exports increased 5% in the first half of 2026, as stronger shipments of ordinary non-basmati rice outweighed a decline in basmati trade linked to disruption in Gulf markets. Thai 5% broken rice was quoted at $455-460 per tonne in that report, although Bao Moi carried a later range of $450-454 after a $3 decline.

The Vietnam Food Association is proposing a floor export price of $500 per tonne FOB for fragrant rice and a minimum domestic purchase price of 7,000 dong per kilogram for unmilled fresh paddy, Vietnambiz reported. The association says the measure would protect farmers and exporters from price pressure. For market participants, the central question is whether such floors can support farmgate returns without reducing Vietnamese rice’s competitiveness when regional buyers are purchasing cautiously.