Vietnam to Export 5Mln Tons of Rice in 2007
The Ministry of Trade said that Vietnam may export 5 million tons of processed rice in 2007 after balancing the country’s total rice output next year.
The ministry said Vietnam will harvest 37 million tons of rice in 2007. Of this figure, 27.6 million tons will be consumed locally and 9.3 million tons, equivalent to 5 million tons of processed rice, will be available for export.
The ministry also predicts that Vietnam will have favorable rice exporting conditions in 2007 and the following years. Global rice output in 2006-07 is expected to drop by 1 million tons from the previous crop.
Vietnam has gained the contract to supply 5,000 tons of rice to Japan, and the Philippines plans to import 500,000 tons of 25 per cent broken rice from Vietnam, Thailand and China in 2007.
The ministry and local enterprises, in a recent meeting discussing rice export plans for 2007, urged the Government to allow signing of rice export contracts for the first quarter of 2007, banned since Nov 12, 2006.
Vietnam is estimated to ship 4.8 million tons of rice worth $1.3 billion in 2006.
Liberated Saigon, Vietnam Agriculture
Vietnamese
