In the first half of 2025, Singapore imported rice products worth 60.9 million SGD (over 47.7 million USD) from Viet Nam, accounting for 24.5% of the country’s total rice imports. The value marked a 17.1% decline year-on-year, which may be attributed to falling export prices.
Viet Nam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment reported that the country’s average export price for rice during this period was estimated at 517.5 USD per tonne, down 18.4% from the same period in 2024.
Among Vietnamese rice categories in the Singaporean market, white rice posted the highest import value, reaching 38.6 million SGD in the first six months of 2025, an 11.9% increase year-on-year, capturing 29.6% of the market. Despite facing competition from more than 20 international suppliers, Viet Nam ranks second in Singapore’s white rice imports, behind India, which posted 60.9 million SGD in sales and a 46.7% market share.
In addition to white rice, two other Vietnamese rice categories recorded strong import values: milled fragrant rice and glutinous rice, with respective import values of 15.5 million SGD and 4.7 million SGD. These accounted for 57% and 61% of Singapore’s market share in their respective segments. Despite a slight drop in import values compared to the same period in 2024, Viet Nam continues to lead as Singapore’s top supplier in these two categories.
In the first half of 2025, Singapore imported 248.9 million SGD worth of rice, up 10.8% year-on-year. India and Thailand remained the top suppliers, with Viet Nam holding the third place.
According to the Viet Nam Trade Office in Singapore, while the size of Singapore’s rice import market has remained stable, Vietnamese rice faces intense competition from Indian, Thai and Japanese products. A proposed bilateral rice trade agreement between Viet Nam and Singapore is expected to help stabilise Viet Nam’s rice exports to the city-state in the near future.
