Agro-Aqua-Forestry exports reach US$11 billion

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, during the first five months of the year agro-aqua-forestry exports reached nearly US$10.9 billion with the figure reaching $2.3 billion in May alone.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, during the first five months of the year agro-aqua-forestry exports reached nearly US$10.9 billion with the figure reaching $2.3 billion in May alone.

Total agro-aqua-forestry exports in the first five months of 2012 were up by 10.1 per cent compared to the same period last year.

Rice exports in the first five months topped three million tonnes, worth $1.4 billion at an average rate of $470 per tonne.

Although at the beginning of this year, experts forecast a slump in rice exports as demand from regular markets had dropped severely. However, now the market is showing more positive signs.

Rice exports to China rose strongly, 4.4 times in quantity and 4 times in value as compared to the same period last year, making China the biggest rice importer from Vietnam.

In addition, Malaysia surpassed Indonesia to become the second largest rice importer from Vietnam, with a nearly 30 per cent increase in rice import volume year-on-year.

Vietnamese rice exporters are striving to seek new markets to replace regular markets and have seen positive growth in exports to the African markets, which include, Ivory Coast, Ghana and Senegal.

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