Domestic retail prices decrease
Since the beginning of 2025, Vietnam's rice and rice export prices have decreased to the lowest level since August 2021. The sharp decline in export prices has put pressure on the domestic market, forcing distributors and retailers to consider adjusting prices to suit the actual situation.
In Ho Chi Minh City, many retail stores have started to reduce the selling price by 1,000-2,000 VND/kg for popular rice. Loc Phat Rice Shop near Ba Chieu Market (Binh Thanh District) is reducing rice prices by 2,000 VND/kg compared to December 2024 due to dealers announcing a reduction in selling prices.
"Although all types of rice have decreased, the price is still over 15,000 VND/kg, customers who buy mainly a few kilos of rice do not have to buy in bulk to store" - Ms. Ngoc Quynh, owner of a rice shop near Ba Chieu market (Binh Thanh district) shared.
A survey by Lao Dong on February 26 showed that at traditional markets and rice stores in Ho Chi Minh City, after adjustment, the price of soft rice floated and increased by VND15,000-18,000/kg, fragrant rice 64 VND17,000/kg, fragrant broken rice VND18,000/kg, Arrow rice 22,000 VND/kg, fragrant rice at Dao market 17,000-19,000 VND/kg...
Although retail prices have been adjusted down, consumer purchasing power in Ho Chi Minh City has not increased. Many traders said that the number of customers coming to buy rice has not changed significantly. In addition, high-end and branded rice like ST25 still has the same selling price.
Mr. Dinh Quang Thanh, representative of Phuong Nam Rice store (District 3), said: " ST25 rice is still sold at normal prices, not reduced. The price of ST25 rice depends on the price at the factory and the previous purchase contract". Currently, the price of premium ST25 rice is 41,000 VND/kg, ST25 rice with shrimp is 43,000 VND/kg; the premium ST25 is 52,000 VND/kg and the organic ST25 is 80,000 VND/kg.
Proactively respond
Supermarket systems have not yet taken any price reduction moves because units focus on the mid-range and high-end segments, which are less volatile. At the same time, supply contracts between supermarkets and distributors are often long-term and delayed, making retail prices less affected as soon as rice prices fall. To stimulate consumption, retailers have had strategies to increase promotions and promote products to attract customers.
According to Mr. Pham Thai Binh - Chairman of the Board of Directors of Trung An High-Tech Agricultural Joint Stock Company, this year, Vietnam's export rice prices have continuously decreased, currently the lowest among exporting countries such as Thailand, Pakistan... The decrease in export rice prices has also led to a decrease in domestic rice prices.
In the context of many market fluctuations, to adapt and reduce risks, businesses also proactively have solutions to adapt and transform.
Mr. Dinh Hong Ky - Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Business Association - said that Vietnamese enterprises have had diverse, strong and creative green transformation solutions. Especially the issue related to developing products such as green rice, applying modern technology to the farm. At the same time, look for new rice export markets, paying special attention to markets such as Indonesia, the Philippines...
With Vietnams agricultural strengths, we must be more accelerated to transform digitally and go hand in hand with green transformation, which brings many benefits, said Mr. Dinh Hong Ky.
