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Agricultural exports rise just 1%
Viet Nam earned US$6.44 billion from agro-forestry and seafood exports in the first five months of 2009, a year-on-year rise of just 1 per cent.
Most products saw an increase in exports, but total revenues recorded a small rise due to falling prices caused by the current global financial crisis, reported the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).
The ministry’s figures show that coffee exports were up 37 per cent in volume at $1 billion, but down 0.4 per cent in value; pepper dropped more than 7 per cent in earnings, despite a 41 per cent rise in volume.
Forestry and seafood exports suffered the same fate during the period, with turnover reaching $1 billion and $1.36 billion, down 17 per cent and 10 per cent from the same period last year, respectively.
Having anticipated the challenges, the ministry has adjusted its yearly target downwards for agro-forestry and seafood exports to $12.5 billion, $3.7 billion lower than last year’s figure.
The agricultural sector spent less on imports, as well. The sector spent only $77 million on pesticides and $65 million on timber, year on year drops of 29 per cent and 46 per cent, respectively.
Rice shipments up sharply
Rice recorded the highest and steadiest growth, fetching $1.5 billion between January and May, a year-on-year increase of 17 per cent.
The Philippines remains the largest importer of Vietnamese rice, making up 46.5 per cent of the country’s total rice revenues. It is followed by Malaysia and Iraq, which accounted for 10 per cent and 6 per cent of the total value.
MARD is co-operating closely with provinces and districts to ensure rice export targets are met this year, according to the instructions of Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai. MARD is also to help stem losses in harvesting and post-harvest production and find ways to maintain quality.
vietnamnews
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