Five agricultural products have exceeded their yearly plan, with export revenue targets fulfilled one month early for seafood, woodwork, rubber, pepper and tea products, according to the Ministry of Trade.
Export revenue from seafood products has generated more than US$3.1 billion in the first 11 months of this year, posting an on year rise of 24.6 per cent and US$100 million higher than the set target.
The ministry said the stronger-than-expected growth in exports is mostly thanks to high prices for seafood in the world market.
The price of shrimp has averaged around VND125,000-165,000 ($7.8-10.3) per kilo this month, while catfish reached VND14,500-15,300 per kilo, up 5 per cent from last week.
Meanwhile, the woodwork sector also witnessed sharp growth, export revenues growing 10 times compared with five years ago. Jan-Nov export revenue has reached $1.7 billion, also $100 million higher than planned. The country’s total annual revenue from woodwork is estimated to jump to $2.2 billion.
The rubber industry, despite fluctuating export prices during the past months, has made record revenues of $1.2 billion in Jan-Nov 2006. The figure is nearly $400 million higher than the set plan, with an on year rise of 76.5 per cent.
Export prices of Vietnamese rubber have rebounded since early November after consecutive drops caused by Chinese counterparts, who consume nearly 68 per cent of Vietnam’s total rubber export volume.
The prices are now standing at $1,900-2,000 per ton and predicted to soar by $200 per ton in the early months of next year due to low production in other large rubber producing countries.
Vietnamese pepper, in spite of lower export revenue compared with the above products, remains the most wanted in the world. Vietnam has exported 115,000 tons of pepper during the Jan-Nov period of 2006, notching up $187 million. Its initial plan was only $178 million.
The tea sector also surpassed its first goal of $116 million, reaching $120 million from exporting 96,000 tons of product in the first 11 months. Pepper and tea presented on year rises of 15 per cent and 20 per cent, respectively.
Unlike woodwork, seafood, rubber, tea and pepper, both the cashew and vegetable sectors are expected to fall short of their targets even though they have one more month for export.
Export of cashews has brought in $466 million in 11 months, down 18 per cent against the same period of last year. Cashew exports were initially expected to generate $620 million in 2006.
Vegetable exports Jan-Nov are estimated at $235 million. Its target of $291 million for the whole year could be fulfilled if hailstone had not damaged large veggie plantations in the north.
GSO November Edition, Market
Vietnamese
