Vietnam has surpassed Thailand to become the world's second-largest rice exporter in the first half of 2025, the Government News quoted an announcement from the Thai Rice Exporters Association as reporting on August 5.

Data from the association showed that from January-June this year, India exported 11.68 million tons of rice, an increase of 36.5 per cent compared to the same period last year. Vietnam came second with 4.72 million tons, up 3.5 per cent. Thailand ranked third, with 3.73 million tons, a decrease of 27.3 per cent.

In July alone, Vietnam exported 750,000 tons of rice, earning $366.1 million, according to the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.

During the first seven months of the year, the nation gained $2.81 billion from exporting 5.5 million tons of rice, an increase of 3.1 per cent in volume but a decline of 15.9 per cent in value compared to the same period last year.

The Philippines remained Vietnam's largest rice export market, accounting for 42.6 per cent of total export revenue.

Several African markets recorded impressive growth. Exports to Ghana rose by 53.5 per cent, while exports to Ivory Coast nearly doubled.

Among the top 15 rice export markets of Vietnam, Bangladesh saw the strongest growth in export value, soaring by 188.2 times, whereas Malaysia experienced the steepest decline, with export value dropping by 58.5 per cent.

Vietnam's agriculture, forestry, and fisheries exports hit $39.68 billion in the first seven months of this year, a 14.7 per cent year-on-year increase, the ministry reported.

The sector enjoyed a trade surplus of $11.52 billion, up 15.9 per cent from the same period last year.

In the January-July period, Asia remained Vietnam's largest export market, accounting for 42.6 per cent of the total value. Notably, exports to Europe surged by 43.1 per cent.