Exports of agro, forestry, and seafood products rose just 1 per cent on-year to US$6.44 billion in the first five months this year, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) said.
Most exported products saw increase in volume but total revenues suffered losses due to falling prices caused by the current global financial crisis, the ministry explained.
Coffee exports grew 37 per cent in quantity but value fell 0.4 per cent to US$1 billion. Pepper was reported up 41 per cent in volume while only up a slight 7 per cent in value at US$246 million.
Cashew increased a bit in quantity but dropped about 15 per cent in export turnover.
Agro-product also saw a considerate reduction with the total export turnover of forestry products in Jan-May of over US$1 billion, down 17 per cent against last year and that of seafood products of US$1.36 billion, down over 10 per cent.
Rice maintained its large and stable acceleration with export earnings of US$350 million in May only, a rise of over 43 per cent against the same period last year.
Rice export turnover in the first five months of Vietnam was US$1.5 billion, up about 17 per cent year-on-year. The Philippines still remains the largest rice buy from Vietnam, followed by Malaysia and Iraq.
In addition, Vietnam’s tea witnessed a considerable export turnover of US$50 million, increasing by 13.4 per cent against last year.
Also due to the adverse impacts of the financial crisis, the import value in some agricultural products jumped with raw materials and fertilizers of US$177 million, timber and wooden furniture of US$65 million, on-year falls of 29 per cent and 46 per cent, respectively.
With anticipated challenges, the ministry has adjusted its yearly target for agro-forestry and seafood exports down to US$12.5 billion, or US$3.7 billion lower than last year’s figure. (VNA, CafeF)
Vietnamese
