Vietnamese companies have contracted to export 3 million tonnes of rice by the end of June, while output from the winter-spring crop plus stocks would provide a combined 5 million tonnes in the period, the dang ky nhan hieu Dan (People) newspaper reported, citing data from the Vietnam Food Association.

Rice prices in domestic markets have been easing after a brief pickup at the start of March when purchases under a government-backed stockpiling plan began, the report said.

Vietnam is the world's third largest rice exporter after Thailand and India.

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NOTE: Reuters has not verified this story and does not vouch for its accuracy. (Compiled by Hanoi Newsroom; Editing by Prateek Chatterjee)