Philippines Awaits 400,000 Tons Rice as Vietnam Resumes Export

Vietnam assured it will deliver 400,000 metric tons of rice to the Philippines after it decided to resume exports to Southeast Asian countries starting May 1.

“This means that Vietnamese rice exporters will commence fulfillment of their contracts with Philippine importers, and consider future supply deals under an existing bilateral trade agreement,” Philippine Agriculture Secretary William Dar said in a statement.

The Philippines also sent notices to Cambodia, India, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam for its plan to import 300,000 metric tons of rice via a government-to-government transaction as it seeks to boost stocks before the lean months.

Import permits for 2.7 million metric tons of rice have been issued by the Philippine government this year, of which about 1.2 million tons will be delivered this May and 782,000 metric tons in the succeeding months.