Vietnam Rice Exports Face Delays as Middle East War Raise Costs

March 25, 2026 | 05:10 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Middle East tensions have disrupted Vietnam’s rice exports as shipping costs and insurance premiums surge, according to Vietnam News Agency (VNA) report on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, as quoted from Antara.

“Rice exports in 2026 are likely to be affected by the conflict in the Middle East,” said Nguyn Anh Sn, director general of the Import-Export Department under the country's Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Delivery times have lengthened by 10 to 15 days, while domestic transportation costs have surged by 20,000 Vietnamese dong (1 Vietnamese dong = Rp0.64) to 30,000 Vietnamese dong, according to the report, as quoted by Xinhua, citing Nguyn Anh Sn.

Exporters are facing a container crisis and rerouted shipping services, forcing traders to renegotiate contracts, delay shipments, or hold off on new orders, the report added.

According to Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Vietnam’s rice output in 2026 is projected to reach approximately 45.6 million tons, with 7.73 million tons available for export.

The Philippines remained Vietnam's largest rice market, accounting for nearly 56 percent of shipments in the first months of 2026 with about 711,000 tons, up roughly 30 percent from the previous year, after the country resumed imports.

China ranked second, receiving around 178,000 tons of rice from Vietnam, more than doubling from the same period last year as demand rose ahead of the Chinese New Year holiday.

Meanwhile, other markets such as Malaysia and Australia recorded strong growth, in contrast to the decline in exports to several African countries after a surge in demand last year.

According to customs data, Vietnam exported over 8.06 million tons of rice worth $4.1 billion in 2025.

Read: Indonesia Records 4.2% Exports to Middle East Region

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