Agriculture exports up 25%

The agro-forest and seafood sectors’ export value for the first two months of this year was 25 per cent up on the same period last year, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development figures showed.

The sector earned US$1.4 billion in exports in February, bringing its total value in the first two months to $2.8 billion, ministry’s Informatic and Statistics Centre director Nguyen Viet Chien said.

The export value of farm products increased 11 per cent to $1.5 billion, seafood went up 41 per cent to $628 million and forest products rose 60 per cent to $617 million.

Rubber, pepper, cashew nuts and tea also posted high growth rates in both volume and value.
The country earned $241 million from 98,000 tonnes of rubber exports, an increase of 136 per cent in value and 29 per cent in volume in the two months.

Pepper, cashew nuts and tea increased 10-47 per cent in volume and 32-58.6 per cent in value.

The volume and value of rice and coffee fell compared to the two months last year. The nation exported 764,000 tonnes of rice for $411 million, a fall of 27 per cent in volume and 12.5 per cent in value. Coffee exported decreased in volume by 3 per cent to 280,000 tonnes and 11 per cent in value to $394 million.
The Hydro-meteorology Agency has forecast the Central Highlands – the largest producer of coffee in Viet Nam – may soon experience high temperatures and drought, which would lead to a sharp reduction in the national coffee output.
Viet Nam expects to earn $16 billion from agro-forestry and seafood exports this year compared with $15.4 billion last year. The Viet Nam National Vegetable, Fruit and Agricultural Product Corporation also expected an increase of 11.2 per cent in its revenue this year to VND4.5 trillion ($236.8 million) compared to last year.

To reach the target, the corporation would research markets in Japan, South Korea, Brazil and India, participate in foreign and domestic fairs and develop its “Vegetexco” trademark, corporation general director Nguyen Van Thanh said. It would also enhance consumption of fresh flower, vegetables and fruit, processed fruit and vegetable and other service products, he said.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News

Tags: Vietnam Agricultural exports, Vietnam agriculture, Vietnam exports