The figures were released at the conference on rice export management in Can Tho city on Friday.

The Philippines, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Ivory Coast, and China’s Hong Kong were Vietnam’s key export markets and continued to maintain growth. Several EU markets also recorded considerable growth.

Nguyen Nhu Cuong, Director of the Crop Production Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said with the current favorable rice production, especially in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam’s rice export will likely reach 7.5 million tons this year.

“With what has been prepared, I can confirm that Vietnam can ensure food security at the highest level and have the most appropriate solutions in response to either natural disasters or epidemics if they occur on a large scale,” said Cuong.

According to the Vietnam Food Association, Vietnam’s rice exports have grown strongly over the past decade, ranking second after India.

Since India began to ban rice exports on July 20 of this year, the price of Vietnamese rice has increased significantly.

Between now and the year end, the Association said the demand for rice imports remains strong, offering Vietnam a great opportunity to produce and export this food staple, said Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien.

“The export prices of some rice varieties have hit a record high over the past 11 years. The price of commodity rice is also higher,” said Dien, adding, “The rice growing area in the Mekong Delta is about 700,000 hectares, up 50,000 hectares from last year. It is likely to produce 43 million tonnes of unhusked rice. Under normal weather conditions, Vietnam will likely export 7.5 to 8 million tonnes after setting aside for national food security.”