Agro, Forestry, Seafood Exports Fetch US$2Bln in Jan-February

Vietnam was estimated to export nearly US$2 billion worth of agricultural, forestry and seafood products in the first two months of 2009, down 5.3 per cent on year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

 

Of the total, exports of farm produce were valued at US$1.2 billion, up 8.47 per cent; seafood, US$415 million, down 15.33 per cent; and forestry products US$360 million, down 26.4 per cent on year.

 

The ministry said Vietnam’s shrinking exports in February were affected by the world economic crisis in almost all kinds of product except rice.

 

Prices of coffee dropped by 18 per cent; rubber, 42 per cent; cashew nuts, 6 per cent; and pepper, 24 per cent, causing decreases of 9.6 per cent and 51 per cent in export revenues of coffee and rubber; and slim rises of 2.1 per cent and 6.5 per cent in export revenues of cashew nuts and pepper. (Vietnam & World Economy)