1. Rice Production in South and Southeast Asia

During the current monitoring period, the total rice cultivation area in eight equatorial Asian countries increased slightly compared to 2024 (by 2.3%), with yields remaining essentially stable (-0.2%). Total production rose by 4.1%, reaching 111.28 million tons.

In Indonesia, the harvest of the first-season rice has been completed. The harvested area is estimated at 1,843.6 thousand hectares, with an average yield of 4,546.2 kilograms per hectare (approximately 4.55 tons/ha), representing a year-on-year increase of 2.49%. This improvement is mainly attributed to favorable growing conditions brought about by moderate rainfall nationwide in 2025, and a relatively stable climate compared to 2024, which was affected by El Niño.

In Bangladesh, where three rice seasons are cultivated annually, the Boro (dry-season) rice, typically planted in December/January and harvested in April/May, is estimated to cover 2,324.2 thousand hectares—slightly up from last year (2,306.9 thousand hectares). However, yields have declined due to heavy rainfall brought by tropical cyclones.

In Sri Lanka, excessive rainfall and flooding in November 2024 delayed sowing and worsened growing conditions in the northeastern region, leading to a drop in average yield to 6,106.61 kilograms per hectare (about 6.11 tons/ha), down 2.32% year-on-year. Nevertheless, an increase in planted area helped keep total production roughly in line with previous years.

India recorded increases in both area and yield, with a 3.6% expansion in planted area and a 3.68% rise in yield. Total production is projected to reach 69.574 million tons.

Table 1 Rice Production in South and Southeast Asia

2. Monitoring of Summer Rice Planting Preparation Area in Northern Vietnam

From March to May 2025, the CropWatch team monitored the summer rice planting preparation in Northern Vietnam. This monitoring period covered the critical phases of winter rice harvest and summer rice sowing, with a focus on monitoring the rice planting preparation in the Red River Delta, Northeast, and Northwest regions of Northern Vietnam.

The potential rice planting area in Northern Vietnam is 1,547.2 thousand hectares, with the actual summer rice sowing area being 540.6 thousand hectares, accounting for 34.9% of the potential area. Overall, the regions in Northern Vietnam experienced varying degrees of reduced rainfall and rising temperatures during this period, which affected crop growing conditions. In the Red River Delta region, the rice planting preparation area was 337.89 thousand hectares, accounting for 35.20% of the potential rice planting area. In the Northwest region of Vietnam, the rice planting preparation area was 39.83 thousand hectares, accounting for 33.60% of the potential rice planting area. In the Northeast region of Vietnam, the rice planting preparation area was 162.84 thousand hectares, accounting for 34.75% of the potential rice planting area.

Figure 1  Spatial Distribution of Rice Planting Preparation Monitoring Results in Northern Vietnam