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Agriculture exports fall in Q1
Export turnover from the agro-forestry and seafood sectors in the first quarter of the year was down 3.92 per cent from the same period last year at US$3.49 billion, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).
In the first three months, export value of farm produce decreased 11.01 per cent to $1.9 billion, while seafood went up three per cent to $771 million and forestry products rose 15.3 per cent to $706 million.
Exports of key produce such as rice and coffee fell in both volume and value, the ministry said.
The country exported only 326,000 tonnes of coffee, earning $466 million in the first three months, a decrease of 24 per cent in value and 28 per cent in volume.
Only rubber, cashew nut and pepper posted high export earnings thanks to higher prices in the world market despite a decrease in export volume.
Export revenues of rubber and cashew nuts reached $251 million and $148 million respectively, an increase of 54.24 per cent and 6.39 per cent against the same period last year.
Optimistic signs came from the aquaculture sector with export revenues from tra fish and frozen shrimp going up in the first quarter. This increased the likelihood that the annual export target of $4.5 billion set for the sector this year would be achieved, the ministry said.
Total seafood output in the first quarter reached 1.97 million tonnes, with that of offshore fishing increasing by 1.1 per cent over the same period last year to 620,000 tonnes, while aquaculture output went up by 14.9 per cent to 477,000 tonnes, according to MARD.
Favourable weather over the past three months had facilitated sea fishing, officials said.
In addition, farmers in many localities had resumed breeding of tra fish, shrimp and other marine products, increasing seafood production.
The ministry has ordered local authorities to strengthen inspections and check breed quality to prevent epidemics.
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