STRENGTHENING THE PROMOTION OF VIETNAMESE RICE IN THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION
By the collaboration between the Vietnam Food Association, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Consulate General of Vietnam in Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Rice Importers Association, a business network seminar promoting Vietnamese rice products took place in Hong Kong (China) on August 15th. This seminar gained the participation of around 40 leading Vietnamese rice and agricultural exporters together with representatives from rice trading enterprises from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region with the purpose of creating opportunities for enterprises to have access to the latest information on production, trade and rice consumption situation in Vietnam and Hong Kong.
Hong Kong, with a population of over 7.5 million people and almost no agricultural land, is entirely dependent on rice imports. Rice importers in Hong Kong began importing various types of rice from Vietnam in the early 1990s, but it was not until 2008 that Vietnam’s market share increased significantly, especially during the 2008-2013 period. However, since 2014, the market share of Vietnamese rice has fluctuated, dropping to about 16% in 2017 before rising again to around 27% in 2021 - after the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the latest statistics, this share currently stands at about 20% in the first half of 2025. Therefore, this seminar aims to identify the causes and also propose solutions with the hope to bring back Vietnam’s rice exports to the Hong Kong market to pre-2020 levels.
In recent years, Vietnam has developed many new high-quality rice varieties, renewed farming methods towards environmental friendliness, and applied advanced science and technology in all stages from cultivation, harvesting, processing, packaging, to preservation and export. Moreover, Vietnam also holds a stable position in the Hong Kong market, where it is widely favored, currently ranks second among rice-exporting countries to Hong Kong, only after Thailand. Therefore, this seminar is a good opportunity for Vietnamese enterprises to introduce their premium rice products to Hong Kong rice importers to open a new chapter in trade between the two countries. Furthermore, Vietnam can take advantage of Hong Kong’s role as a transit hub, not only to export rice directly into the Hong Kong market but also to expand into other markets.
Regarding future strategic goals, it is necessary to diversify rice export markets, specifically by consolidating traditional markets and developing new potential ones. Moreover, rice export activities need to be connected with the production value chain to ensure quality, food safety, environmental protection, and community responsibility, while also affirming the prestige and brand of Vietnamese rice in the global rice trade market. Besides that, the two associations of two countries currently explore the possibility of cooperating with businesses and carbon credit trading platforms to enhance and take advantage of the added value created from emission reductions in rice cultivation and processing. Such forms of cooperation would not only benefit exporters, importers, and farmers but also contribute positively to the planet.
By attending this seminar, GAFOOD gained valuable insights into the latest market dynamics and consumer trends in Hong Kong as well as had a chance to maintain our reputation as one of the reliable suppliers in Vietnam by introducing our high-quality rice products. Furthermore, we also had the opportunity to actively connect with a wide range of potential partners, including leading rice importers, distributors, and representatives of major trading enterprises in Hong Kong. Through direct discussions and exchanges during the seminar, we were able to better understand the specific needs, expectations, and business practices of partners in this important market. We believe that taking part in this seminar is an essential step of GAFOOD and hope to have opportunities for future cooperation, contributing to strengthening our presence in Hong Kong and expanding into other markets.