Bangladesh to import 100,000 tons of white rice from Vietnam

According to the Vietnam Food Association, information from international sources said that Bangladesh will import 100,000 tons of white rice from Vietnam under a Government-to-Government (G2G) agreement, supplied by the Vietnam Southern Food Corporation at the price of USD 474.25/ton. The proposal to buy from the Ministry of Food of Bangladesh was approved by the Bangladesh Public Procurement Authority in Dhaka on January 28, 2025.

The Bangladesh Government will sell rice under the Open Market Sale (OMS) program from February to support low-income people, distributing 907 tons/day at 906 centers nationwide, including Dhaka, towns, cities, and labor-intensive areas. Each center will sell 1 ton/day, except for the Secretariat Center, which will sell 2 tons/day. Rice will cost 30 tk/kg (about USD 243/ton), with a purchase limit of 5 kg/person.

Also according to an international source, the Provisional Government of Bangladesh is considering lifting the ban on the export of fragrant rice to increase revenue, promote trade, and prevent smuggling to India, where fragrant rice is renamed and sold globally. This proposal was discussed in the meeting of the Food Planning and Monitoring Unit and is waiting for approval. Officials cited that excess domestic output is the main factor, with Bangladesh planting 33 fragrant rice types. Previously, this country exported this type of rice to 136 countries before applying the ban on rice exports indefinitely.