Tea exports grow in value, volume in first ten months

Tea exports in the first 10 months of this year increased by 22.3 per cent in volume and 14.5 per cent in value over the corresponding period last year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

In October alone, the country exported 15,000 tonnes of tea, boosting total export volume in the first 10 months to 110,000 tonnes. These volumes brought the country an export turnover of US$20 million and $145 million respectively.

“Tea is the only agricultural and forestry products that has seen growth in both export turnover and volume this year,” said Duong Long Tri, deputy director of the ministry’s IT and Statistics Centre.

Tea prices have increased compared with last month.

“The average price of exported tea over the last 10 months was $1,100 per tonne. The average price on the world market was $2,200 per tonne,” said Nguyen Kim Phong, chairman of the Viet Nam Tea Association.

Vietnamese tea has been exported to 110 countries and territories worldwide. Of which, the “CheViet” trade mark has been registered and protected in 70 markets. At that moment, Pakistan, Russia and Taiwan are major Vietnamese tea importers. Planting tea has brought substantial benefits to local farmers.

“With more than 400,000 families planting tea, it can be regarded as a major factor in successfully reducing poverty and eradicating hunger,” said Ho Xuan Hung, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Although tea may be having a positive effect on socio-economic development, the tea industry itself is regarded as being too small and outmoded in its production.

Tags: Vietnam agriculture, Vietnam business news, Vietnam Tea export