Asian rice prices continued to sink, with Thai prices hitting an 18-year low on weak demand and ample supplies. In contrast, U.S. grains posted their first weekly gain after a period of decline.
Asian rice market
Thai rice export prices fell for a fifth straight week and plunged to their lowest since October 2007, while Indian rates remained near their lowest in more than nine years as top exporters struggled to secure large purchases amid weak demand.
Specifically, Thai 5% broken rice was offered at $335-$340 per ton compared to $340 per ton last week. According to traders in Bangkok, international demand has been almost unchanged while supply remains abundant.
In India, 5% broken parboiled rice prices were unchanged from last week at $340-$345 a tonne, near their lowest since mid-2016. The country’s 5% broken white rice was offered at $360-$370 a tonne. Demand from Asian and African buyers remained weak as they were in no rush to buy and were waiting for prices to bottom out, a Mumbai-based trader said.
In Vietnam, 5% broken rice prices also fell to their lowest in nearly two months at $420-$435 a tonne from $440-$465 last week. A trader in Ho Chi Minh City said demand weakened sharply after the Philippines decided to extend a temporary ban on rice imports. Although the government has encouraged exporters to increase stocks and seek new markets, these measures have not been enough to revive prices.
US grain market
While Asian rice markets were in the red, key US grain commodities all recorded their first weekly price increase in a month.
Specifically, the December 2025 corn contract on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) ended the week with a gain of 2.3% to $4.22/bushel. Similarly, the November 2025 soybean contract also increased by 1.3% to $10.19/bushel, while the December 2025 wheat contract increased by 1.1% to $5.03/bushel. (1 bushel of wheat/soybean = 27.2 kg; 1 bushel of corn = 25.4 kg).
Trading activity in the market remained cautious, as the US government shutdown disrupted the release schedule of important data including corn and soybean harvest progress as well as updated yield estimates.
Previous forecasts had U.S. farmers expecting a record corn crop and a bumper soybean crop. But reports of lower yields in some areas have cast doubt on the government’s latest estimates.
One factor supporting the market is that low prices have caused U.S. farmers to hold back on selling their newly harvested grain. Many farmers are facing losses at current corn and soybean prices, so they are holding back from selling, said Don Roose, president of U.S. Commodities, a commodities brokerage.
For soybeans, prices were also supported by strong demand from domestic processors and hopes for upcoming US-China trade talks.
World coffee market
According to the latest data, world coffee prices fluctuated on two major exchanges in the session of October 17. Specifically, on the ICE London exchange, the price of Robusta coffee for delivery in November 2025 decreased by 62 USD/ton to 4,552 USD/ton, while the contract for delivery in January 2026 decreased by 46 USD/ton to 4,478 USD/ton. On the New York exchange, the price of Arabica coffee for delivery in December 2025 increased by 3.65 cents/lb to 397.45 cents/lb, and the contract for delivery in March 2026 increased by 2.20 cents/lb to 375.60 cents/lb (1 lb = 0.45 kg).
In Vietnam, coffee prices on October 18 in key Central Highlands regions decreased by VND1,000/kg, bringing the average price in the whole region down to VND114,300/kg.
According to market sources, domestic and international Robusta coffee prices are on a downward trend after weather forecasts showed that rain will return to the Central Highlands this weekend. This is considered a positive signal for coffee growers, as wet weather will help improve soil moisture and support the final development stage of coffee plants before the harvest season.
Notably, coffee stocks on ICE continued to decline rapidly, reflecting a shrinking global supply. As of October 17, Arabica stocks tracked by ICE fell to 467,110 bags, a 19-month low. Robusta stocks also fell to 6,176 bags, a nearly three-month low.
Analysts say rains in the Central Highlands could put short-term pressure on Robusta prices. But the trend of declining global reserves and stable consumption demand will be supportive factors for prices in the medium and long term.
Source: https://baotintuc.vn/thi-truong-tien-te/gia-gao-thai-lan-cham-day-18-nam-do-cau-yeu-20251018163419870.htm
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