MUMBAI: Indian rice export prices rose to their highest level in nearly a year this week supported by tight supplies, concerns over the new-season harvest and modest demand from African buyers, while Vietnam prices rose for a third straight week.
India’s 5 percent broken parboiled variety was quoted at USD362-USD368 per metric ton this week, up from last week’s USD358-USD364. Indian 5 percent broken white rice was priced at USD359 to USD364 per ton.
Demand from African countries such as Benin remains stable, providing support to prices, said a New Delhi-based trader with a global trade house.
India’s rice exports rose 5 percent in the first half of 2026 from a year earlier, as higher shipments of non-basmati rice offset a drop in basmati exports after the US-Israeli war on Iran disrupted trade with key Gulf markets.
Vietnam’s 5 percent broken rice was offered at USD435-USD455 per metric ton on Thursday, compared with USD430-USD450 a week ago.
“The current heatwaves in several parts of the world have intensified concerns about the negative impacts on El Nino on global food supplies, including rice,” a trader based in Ho Chi Minh City said.
Traders said they support the proposal from the Vietnam Food Association to impose floor prices on the country’s fragrant rice exports and domestic fresh paddy to protect producers and exporters, but it was unclear when they would take effect.
Bangladesh has approved the import of 100,000 metric tons of parboiled rice from Vietnam under a government-to-government arrangement, as it seeks to ease high domestic rice prices. The rice will be procured from the Vietnam Southern Food Corporation at USD416 per ton.
Thailand’s 5 percent broken rice was quoted at USD450 to USD455 per ton, up from a range of USD435-USD455 last week, according to traders.
There is demand for Thai rice from Malaysia and the Philippines as they have stepped up imports due to the El Nino situation, a Bangkok-based trader said.
Supply was declining slightly with a potential drop off of 1.5 million paddy rice this year, the trader said. Thailand is expected export 7 million tons of rice in 2026.
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