Small Traders Sell Cheap Rice Along Roadsides in the Mekong Delta

Small rice traders in provinces like Tien Giang and Ben Tre are selling rice at low prices directly from trucks along roadsides. This surge in roadside sales is due to declining rice prices and slow demand from exporters. Traders are selling rice from their stockpiles, purchased from farmers before the Lunar New Year, at prices ranging from 11,800 to 15,000 VND per kilogram. With the Philippines buying less and Indonesia limiting imports, large export companies are hesitant to purchase, leaving smaller traders with overflowing warehouses. This direct-to-consumer approach allows traders to recoup some of their investment and provides consumers with more affordable rice while retail prices remain high. The current Winter-Spring harvest surplus further contributes to the oversupply. While this roadside selling offers temporary relief, experts predict it will subside once retail prices adjust to the export market decline.