The Vietnam Food Association (VFA) believes that the country's riceyield of roughly 8.8 million tonnes this year will be sold out thanks toan optimistic market, VFA Chairman Nguyen Hung Linh was quoted by theThoi bao Kinh te Vietnam (Vietnam Economic Times) as saying.

VFA plans to export around 6.2 to 6.5 million tonnes of rice, besidesaround another 2 million tonnes of unofficial cross border exports toChina, Linh said.

The amount of unofficial cross border rice exports cannot be checked so VFA has not listed that in its export plans, added Linh.

Asiawas the largest rice exporting destination for Vietnam's rice by Julywith roughly 197,128 tonnes, or 76 percent of Vietnam's rice exports.The Americas followed, accounting for roughly 40,747 tonnes, or 16percent of rice exports.

With the result, Vietnam exported 3.26million tonnes of rice worth 1.408 billion USD by July 17. Average riceexports so far this year stand at roughly 432 USD per tonne (FOB), uproughly 1 percent per tonne from around 429 USD per tonne recorded overthe same time last year.

To date this year, domestic riceexporters have signed contracts to sell 5.3 million tonnes of rice, ofwhich more than 3.2 million tonnes have been delivered. They are nowboosting rice purchase from farmers to deliver the remaining 2.1 milliontonnes, which has helped push up paddy prices in the domestic market.

Forthe rest of the five months this year, domestic rice exporters willhave to win contracts for the export of more than 1 million tonnes ofrice to meet the annual target of selling 6.2 to 6.5 million tonnes.

Expertssaid that traditional importers are resuming negotiations to buyVietnamese rice but are concerned about fierce competition from Thairice. If Vietnamese rice prices are higher than that of Thailand, theimporters will buy Thai rice, they said.

They are also concernedabout a rise in a small volume of unofficial cross-border rice exportsto China without export contracts, which can cause a little instabilityin Vietnam's rice exports.

To manage rice exports better, DeputyMinister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh asked VFA to closelysupervise and adjust rice exports, especially those via Chinese borderswithout export contracts.

Anh has also urged relevant ministriesand bodies including MARD, Finance, General Department of Customs andBorder Guard Force to issue unique policies to coordinate better withVFA in managing unofficial cross border rice exports.

Anh also called on rice exporters to target sustainable growth through the development of potential and high value markets.-VNA