Top Rice News: Vietnam Exports, Thai Exports And Nigeria’s Production

Check out the latest top rice news today from the global rice market where Vietnam rice exports hit $3.1 billion despite weak demand and Thai rice exports got affected. Subsequently, Nigeria faces lower grain production amid rising demand

Vietnam Rice Exports Hit $3.1 Billion Despite Weak Demand. Here’s How?

Vietnam exported 6.4 million tonnes of rice worth 3.11 billion USD in the first nine months of 2026. It was down 6.1% in volume and 10.9% in value year on year as global demand weakened and export prices dropped. But some markets such as China and Iraq have recorded strong growth.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment stated that the average export price during the period was estimated at 484.8 USD per tonne. It was down 5.1% from the same period last year. Moreover, the Philippines remained Vietnam's largest rice export market as it accounts for 40.9% of total shipments. In addition, China ranked second with a 17.4% share which is followed by Ghana with 12.7%. Rice export value to the Philippines dropped 16.8% year on year, while shipments to Ghana decreased 1.1%. On the contrary, export value to China surged 76%.

Why Did Thai Rice Exports Decline?

Thailand is witnessing growing challenges in its rice export industry as overseas demand continues to weaken. The country exported around 5.2 million tonnes of rice between January and September. It marks a 12.3 percent decrease compared with the same period last year. With Thailand targeting seven million tonnes in exports this year, exporters say another 1.8 million tonnes must be shipped in the final quarter to meet the goal. One major concern is competition from Pakistan, where white rice is cheaper than Thai rice. Moreover, malaysian buyers are also reducing rice imports from Thailand and turning to Pakistan instead.

At the same time, conflict in the Middle East has increased transportation and freight costs, further hurting Thailand’s competitiveness. Exports through Iraq have also dropped sharply. According to Industry representatives, weaker demand, lower prices among competitors, and higher logistics costs could make Thailand’s seven-million-tonne export target increasingly difficult to achieve.

Nigeria Witnesses Lower Grain Production Amid Rising Demand

According to a report from the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the US Department of Agriculture, Nigeria’s wheat, rice, and corn production in 2026-27 is expected to fall. The reason behind this fall is increasing rural insecurity, higher input costs, and reduced farmer incentives. Moreover, Wheat production is estimated to be down 8% to 120,000 tonnes from last year. Consumption is also expected to drop, indicating a decrease in imports and lower consumer purchasing power. In addition, the FAS said that Imports for 2026-27 are estimated at 5.6 million tonnes, a decrease of about 5% compared with the 2025-26 projection. The decrease is attributed to the expected higher price of imports. Notably, Russia is Nigeria’s second-largest wheat supplier, and shipping bottlenecks and higher logistics costs are influencing Black Sea shipments.

Besides that, corn production is expected to decrease by 5% to 11.1 million tonnes in 2026-27.