HCMC - The nation has this month earned an estimated US$2.3 billion in agro-aqua-forestry products exports, taking the total in the first five months to nearly US$10.9 billion, up by 10.1% year-on-year, the Government said on its website (chinhphu.vn).
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, except for rice and rubber that are slightly down in export volume and value, other agro-products have seen a pickup in demand of foreign buyers.
Farm produce exports in the year to date have fetched US$6.1 billion, a year-on-year rise of 2%. For instance, the volume of rice export in January-May has reached around three million tons worth US$1.4 billion with the average export price of US$470 a ton.
Rice export markets have changed considerably, with China emerging as the biggest buyer. The volume shipped to China has surged by 4.4 times in volume and around four times in value versus the same period last year.
Local exporters have been trying to seek new importers to replace the present traditional markets. Africa, including Ivory Coast, Ghana and Senegal, has become a key consumer of the country’s low-grade rice.
Coffee exporters over the past five months have shipped 860,000 tons worth roughly US$1.8 billion, a pickup of 7.8% in volume and 3% in value compared to the year-ago period. Germany and the U.S., Vietnam’s two biggest coffee markets accounting for 13.9% and 12.8% of the country’s total export volume respectively, have increased imports from Vietnam.
Meanwhile, rubber consumption by big foreign buyers has remained strong, with shipments to China adding 16.8% in January-May, Malaysia with a three-time rise and Taiwan with a surge of 61%. However, rubber prices have dipped to a five-month low, thus affecting the nation’s export value.
Over the past five months, the country has exported 317,000 tons of rubber valued at US$952 million, up by 35.2% in volume but down by 7.2% in value. The average export price stands at US$3,000 a ton, dipping by US$1,365 year-on-year.
Exports of other products such as tea, pepper and cashew have remained stable.
Even though exporting seafood to European countries is facing many difficulties, exporters this month have brought home US$500 million, raising the total in the year to date to US$2.3 billion, up 9.8% year-on-year.
Source: TheSaigontimes
