Paddy prices rise as winter-spring crop ready for harvest

Workers load rice packages for export at Sài Gòn Port. — VNA/VNS Photo Đình Huệ

HCM CITY — Domestic paddy prices have increased by 12 per cent as the winter-spring crop in the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta is ready to be harvested.

In An Giang Province, fresh paddy IR50404 is being sold at VNĐ4,500-4,600 per kilo, high-quality paddy VNĐ4,700-4,800, and dried high-quality paddy VNĐ5,650-5,800.

Meanwhile, fragrant Jasmine paddy is priced at VNĐ5,300-5,400 per kilo, a rise of VNĐ50-100.

In Cần Thơ City, fresh paddy IR50404 is being sold for about VNĐ4,400-4,500 per kilo, and Jasmine paddy at VNĐ5,400-5,500, an increase of VNĐ150-200 compared to the price before Tết (Lunar New Year), and an increase of VNĐ200-500 per kilo compared to the same period last year.    

The price of husked rice on the market is VNĐ10,000 per kilo and Jasmine rice VNĐ14,000 per kilo.

The rise in prices for paddy has caused an increase of US$5 per tonne for rice exports compared to prices before Tết.

Enterprises buy 100-200 tonnes of rice on average each day, while some even buy 300-400 tonnes, said Lê Văn Hưng, deputy director of Cần Thơ Department of Industry and Trade.

The Sông Hậu Food Company has stored more than 40,000 tonnes of husked rice and 5,100 tonnes of unhusked rice at VNĐ5,850-6,100 per kilo.

The company plans to buy another 40,000 tonnes of rice.

Vương Đình Thanh, vice chairman of the An Giang Province’s People’s Committee, said enterprises in the province were purchasing about 3,000 tonnes of rice per day to achieve the set target of 150,000 tonnes.

The Tiền Giang Food Company has bought 10,000 tonnes of rice at VNĐ5,900-6,100 per kilo.

Meanwhile, businesses in Đồng Tháp Province plans to purchase 660,000 tonnes of husked rice.

Low productivity was among the reasons for the rise in paddy prices. Many enterprises purchase husked rice and sold more than 293,000 tonnes to Filipino buyers, which contributed to an increase in price.    

Most enterprises said the productivity of paddy in this year’s winter-spring crop fell by 30-40 per cent compared to last year due to unpredictable weather, causing disease in paddy