Vietnam, the world’s second largest rice exporter, plans to target Japan as the No.1 market for rice this year, according to the Vietnam Food Association (Vietfood).
The association also highlighted that Japan, a high-demand and selective market, is always ready to pay a higher price for rice imports, urging rice exporters to do their best to ensure the exported products’ quality.
The move is in conformity with a strategy launched by Vietfood to help its members improve both quality and price of Vietnamese rice.
Around 150,000-170,000 tons of Vietnamese rice will be shipped to the Japanese market this year, up from 130,000 tons in 2006, 120,000 tons in 2005, and 80,000 tons in 2004, Vietfood estimated.
In related news, Japan, a key consumer of locally grown rice, has recently committed to increase imports to 350,000 tons by 2010, which will account for nearly half of all shipments into Japan.
However, the Vietnamese commercial affairs section in Japan said the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries was amending some articles of the Law on Flora Epidemic Prevention, scheduled to take effect on August 10, 2007.
The section asked Vietnamese rice exporters to strengthen inspections on growing, husking and maintenance stages to meet Japan’s strict requirements for product quality. (Vietnam & World Economy)
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