The original Japonica seed used in Vietnam originates from Australia. In Australia, the main Japonica growing area is New South Wales, where the soil has a relatively high level of salinity.
The soil characteristics in Kien Giang and An Giang provinces are quite similar to those in Australia. Therefore, these areas account for the largest Japonica production volume in Vietnam.
In addition, salinity levels peak during June - July, which results in the Summer - Autumn Japonica crop having the best quality. Compared with the Winter–Spring crop, its appearance is shinier, with larger grains.
Types of Japonica:
Overall, the demand of Vietnam Japonica is stable and consistently strong.
Specifically, the export market for Vietnam Japonica shows a clear shift between 2024 and the first 11 months of 2025. In 2024, exports were mainly the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, and Cambodia.
By contrast, in 2025, the Philippines became the largest destination, reflecting stronger demand from major importing countries. The appearance of new markets such as Guinea-Bissau and the United Arab Emirates also indicates increasing market diversification. Overall, this trend suggests expanding demand and greater potential for market development in the future.
1. HISTORY OF PRICE IN 2024 - 2025
The price of Japonica tends to decline at the beginning of the harvest and falls most sharply during the peak of the harvest, particularly in April for the Winter - Spring crop and in September for the Summer - Autumn crop.
Afterward, prices usually recover. Prices usually rise sharply from October to December and remain high until February of the following year, before easing again when the new crop becomes available around April.
The below table demonstrates the Japonica SA price from 2022 to 2024 with:
- In 2023, the lowest price was $580 in September and October and the highest price was $680 in November and December.
- In 2024, the lowest price was $650 in September and the highest price was $760 in Dec.
- The reason for the highest price in Dec is the out of inventory and high and strong demand for both export and domestic consumption.
- Price fluctuates from $650 to $760 in 2024.
The main competitor of Japonica is Ham Chau, which is mainly cultivated in Tra Vinh Province because the appearance of Ham Chau is similar as its Japonica due to the short appearance. There are 2 types of Ham Chau:
- Normal Ham Chau: it belongs to white rice
- Ham Chau 105: it belongs to fragrant rice. This variety is considered as the main competitor of Vietnam Japonica
Besides Calrose (Ham Chau) rice, several short-grain varieties from Taiwan and South Korea are also considered competitors to Japonica rice. However, these varieties are still relatively limited in availability and market penetration.
Japonica rice originates from Japan and is a staple variety in Japanese, Korean, and several East Asian cuisines. It is one of the two main groups of Asian rice, characterized by short, round grains and a soft, sticky texture when cooked.
Global Japonica rice supply is concentrated in East Asia, mainly Japan, China, and South Korea, where production is largely reserved for domestic consumption. Australia is the key export-oriented supplier, while Vietnam and the United States serve as emerging and supplementary sources.
Top 5 countries supplying Japonica rice (short grain rice) globally
- China
- Japan
- South Korea
- Australia
- United States (Calrose)
Top 3 world markets with the strongest demand:
- Australia
- Papua New Guinea
- Several Southeast Asia countries: Singapore and Indonesia
- EU: Germany, France the Netherlands
