Sourcing from Vietnam · Vietnam → World
Sourcing Rice and Agricultural Commodities from Vietnam
Vietnam is one of the largest rice exporters in the world, supplying white, fragrant and glutinous rice to Asia, Africa and beyond. It also exports cassava products, tea and natural rubber. GLG helps importers find verified mills and exporters, inspect quality and weight, and ship in containers or bulk.
Key products
- Long grain white rice, 5%, 15% and 25% broken
- Fragrant rice such as Jasmine, ST24 and ST25
- Glutinous (sticky) rice, long and round grain
- Japonica and medium grain rice
- Broken rice for food processing and feed
- Cassava chips and tapioca starch
- Black and green tea, orthodox and CTC
- Natural rubber SVR 3L, SVR 10 and SVR 20, latex
Sourcing regions
- Mekong Delta (An Giang, Đồng Tháp, Cần Thơ, Vĩnh Long) – the rice bowl, with large milling and polishing plants
- Cần Thơ and the coastal delta – fragrant varieties including ST24 and ST25
- Tây Ninh and the Central Highlands – cassava growing and tapioca starch factories
- Thái Nguyên, Phú Thọ and Lâm Đồng – tea growing and processing
- Đông Nam Bộ and the Central Highlands – natural rubber plantations and processing
Common HS codes
| HS code | Description |
|---|---|
| 1006 | Rice |
| 0714 | Cassava and similar roots, fresh or dried |
| 1108 | Starches, including tapioca starch |
| 0902 | Tea |
| 4001 | Natural rubber |
HS codes are indicative. Confirm the exact classification of your product before you declare it.
Certifications buyers ask for
- Phytosanitary certificate issued by the Vietnamese plant protection authority
- Quality, weight and fumigation certificates from an independent inspection company
- Certificate of origin for FTA preferences where applicable
- BRCGS, HACCP or ISO 22000 for retail-packed rice and starch
- Organic, non-GMO or halal certification on buyer request
- Rainforest Alliance for tea and sustainability programmes for rubber
Logistics notes
- Containerised rice is packed in PP or BOPP bags, commonly 25 or 50 kg, or in jumbo bags, in 20-foot dry containers.
- Large rice and cassava chip lots can move in bulk or break-bulk vessels from Mekong Delta and southern ports.
- Line containers with kraft paper and use desiccants; condensation is a common cause of claims for rice.
- Fumigation is usually done before or after stuffing; confirm the method accepted by the destination.
- Southern cargo ships via Cát Lái, Cái Mép and Cần Thơ; tea from the north usually ships via Hải Phòng.
Sourcing tips
- Specify variety, broken percentage, moisture, chalky and damaged kernels, milling degree and crop year.
- Ask for an independent quality and weight inspection at loading, with sealed samples.
- Check whether the exporter owns milling and polishing capacity or buys finished rice from other mills.
- Confirm that fragrant rice varieties are genuine; mixing with non-fragrant rice is a known risk.
- For rubber, confirm the SVR grade is tested to the national standard and certified per lot.
Vietnam as a rice and agricultural exporter
Vietnam ranks among the top rice exporters globally. The Mekong Delta produces the bulk of export rice, harvested in several crops each year, which allows exporters to offer fresh crop for much of the year. Main buyers include the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, African markets and China, with fragrant varieties increasingly sold to premium markets.
Beyond rice, Vietnam is a significant exporter of cassava chips and tapioca starch, natural rubber and tea, all of which move through the same southern and northern port networks.
Main rice types and specifications
| Type | Typical specification | Main markets |
|---|---|---|
| White rice 5% broken | Long grain, double polished, sortexed | Asia, Africa |
| White rice 25% broken | Long grain, single polished | Price-sensitive markets |
| Jasmine and fragrant rice | Fragrance, purity, grain length | Asia, Middle East, Europe |
| ST24, ST25 | Premium fragrant, low broken | Premium retail |
| Glutinous rice | Long or round grain, low broken | China, Asia |
Moisture is typically limited to around 14 percent, and buyers should also define chalky kernels, damaged and yellow kernels, red and red-streaked kernels, paddy grains and foreign matter.
How GLG sources and verifies
We shortlist exporters with milling, polishing and sorting capacity matching your grade and volume, then verify their business registration, export history, warehouses and food safety certificates. We coordinate samples and independent inspection of quality, weight, packing and fumigation, and handle phytosanitary and origin documents with the exporter.
Buying process and terms
Rice is usually quoted FOB per tonne for containers or bulk, or CFR to the destination port. Letters of credit are common, especially for government tenders and new relationships, while repeat buyers may use deposit and balance against documents. Prices follow crop cycles and policy changes in other exporting countries, so agree how long offers remain valid.
Packing, documents and quality control
Retail buyers often order rice in printed consumer bags of 1 to 10 kg packed in master bags or cartons, while wholesale and tender buyers prefer plain or printed 25 or 50 kg bags. Agree bag material, printing, inner lining and spare empty bags for each order. The usual document set includes the commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, phytosanitary certificate, fumigation certificate, certificate of origin and quality and weight certificates. Some markets also require a non-GMO declaration, a health certificate or import permits obtained by the buyer before shipment.
Inspection should cover drawing representative samples from several bags, analysis of broken, moisture and defects, checking bag weights and marks, and supervising loading and sealing of each container.
Risks to manage
- Moisture, insect infestation or condensation damage during long voyages.
- Mixing of varieties or broken levels different from the contract.
- Weight shortfalls when bags are under-filled.
- Delays when phytosanitary or fumigation requirements are not prepared in advance.
For first shipments, inspect at the warehouse before stuffing and again during loading to confirm that the approved lot goes into the container.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between 5% and 25% broken rice?
The percentage is the maximum proportion of broken kernels. Lower broken levels mean more whole grains, better appearance and a higher price.
Can I buy ST25 rice for export?
Yes. ST25 and ST24 are available from several exporters, usually in smaller volumes and at a premium compared with standard fragrant rice.
How much rice fits in a 20-foot container?
Commonly around 25 tonnes, depending on bag size, packing and the weight limits on the road and at the destination.
GLG connects, verifies and coordinates, but is not a party to the sales contract: the purchase agreement, price and performance obligations are between buyer and seller. Verification and inspection results reflect conditions at the time of the check and do not guarantee future performance.