Vietnam has so far this year signed contracts to export 3.6 million tons of rice, 600,000 tons higher than the figure recorded by the end of March, according to the Vietnam Food Association (VFA).
China is the potential market for Vietnam’s rice, inking deals for 770,000 tons of rice and 500,000 tons of low-ranked rice.
During the first 20 days of March, deals were signed for shipment of 555,000 tons of rice, up 12% against the same period in 201. Traditional customers such as the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia were interested in buying Vietnamese rice again.
The VFA has adjusted prices of rice for export to US $450 per ton of 5% broken rice and US $425 per ton for 25% broken rice, up US $15 and US $25 per ton, respectively.
Currently, 89 businesses of VFA have purchased 700,000 tons of rice for stockpile, or 70% of the 1 million ton rice reserve plan in the 2011-2012 winter-spring crop./.