Le Viêt Nam, aujourd'hui

Vietnam expects to start signing rice-export contracts with the Philippines earlier than usual this year after storms damaged harvests in the world’s largest buyer, boosting prices for the staple.

Rice exports from Vietnam, the second-largest shipper, may rise to a record 6 million metric tons in 2009 aided by lower prices, narrowing the gap with bigger rival Thailand, according to U.S. forecasts.

Vietnam plans to export 5.5 million tonnes of rice in 2009, increasing 500,000 tonnes against last year, according to Vietnam Food Association (VFA)'s report. Within the first six months, Vietnam has signed contracts to deliver 3.7 million tonnes.

JAKARTA - Inodonesia has an option to buy about 1 million tonnes of rice from Vietnam in the next three years if it needs to build up rice stocks and ensure domestic food security, Trade Minister Mari Pangestu said on Sunday.

A plan by Thailand and Vietnam, the world’s two biggest rice exporters, to manage supplies and become “partners” in production and shipment is unlikely to change prices significantly, the US government said.

The world's top rice exporters, Thailand and Vietnam, have agreed to cooperate to stabilise prices, a senior Thai official said on Thursday, but details have not been set yet and traders in both countries were sceptical.

Dubai - Vietnam will become as source of rice and coffee for the UAE in the near future as economic ties are strengthened, government officials said at a business forum attended by the Vietnamese prime minister on Tuesday.

The Philippines, the world's largest rice importer, is on track to secure most of the grain it needs this year through a large and secretive government-to-government deal with Vietnam, bypassing the international market, traders said yesterday.

HANOI - Communist Vietnam plans to restrict the growth of new golf courses encroaching on rice farms to ensure national food security and protect thousands of poor farmers, state media reported Monday.

HANOI — Fast-industrialising Vietnam plans to protect at least 3.9 million hectares (9.6 million acres) of rice fields to ensure long-term national food security, state media reported on Friday.