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Rice exports on rise
Vietnam shipped 184,558 tonnes of rice to overseas markets in the first 20 days of January, earning US$103.308 million.
The Vietnam Food Association (VFA) predicted that the total export volume of rice will reach 6.5-7 million tonnes by the end of this year.
After the Lunar New Year Festival (Tet), many foreign traders flocked to the Mekong Delta region to place orders for rice.
Truong Thanh Phong, VFA Chairman, said that Vietnam has exported nearly 40,000 tonnes of rice to Hong Kong and it is very keen on this promising market.
Vietnam will enjoy more advantages in exporting rice as many countries in the world are likely to face food shortages due to natural disasters, he said. However, the country should consider new policies for large rice exporters while ensuring a profit of at least 30 percent for local rice growers, he added.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), the country’s total rice output in 2012 is expected to hit 42 million tonnes, including 7-8 million tonnes for export. However, the VFA suggested shipping only 6.5-7 million tonnes abroad to ensure national food security.
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