Agro, Forestry, Seafood Exports Down 12 per cent in January

Vietnam reportedly raked in US$1.1 billion from shipments of agricultural, forestry and seafood products in the first month of 2009, down 12 per cent from the same period of last year, and 21 per cent from a month earlier, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

 

Of the total, export of farm produce brought in US$580 million; forestry products, US$250 million; and seafood, US$270 million.

 

The country earned US$217 million from coffee; US$28 million from fruit and vegetable; US$72 million from rubber; US$17 million from pepper; US$55 million from cashew nuts and US$9 million from tea exports, down 40 per cent; 23 per cent; 43 per cent; 20 per cent; 22 per cent and 28 per cent on year, respectively.

 

Only export of rice showed on year rise of 152.8 per cent to US$130 million.

 

Meanwhile, exports of forestry and seafood products also dropped by 32 per cent and 19 per cent against January of 2008.

 

The ministry said global economic crisis resulting in low demand made sales of agricultural, forestry and seafood decreased.

 

It said orders for Vietnamese cashew nuts, pepper, woodwork and seafood from the U.S. and EU decreased by 20 per cent-30 per cent. (Vietnam & World Economy, GSO January Edition)