Export turnovers of farm produce, forest products and seafood increased 13.5 percent year on year to US$8.6 billion in the first half of 2010, reported the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Though recording the lowest growth rate at just 5.8 percent, farm produce remained a leading hard currency earner with an export turnover of $4.6 billion in the period under review.

Rice earned the nation $1.87 billion from the export of 3.6 million tonnes, showing an increase of seven percent in export value although the export volume decreased 2.3 percent over the same period last year.

The Philippines is the largest importer of Vietnam ’s rice, spending $759 million to buy 50.6 percent of the total volume.

Of the top ten markets of Vietnam rice, Singapore, Taiwan and Hong Kong made sharp rises in import volume and value.

Economists predicted a bright prospect for Vietnamese rice ahead based on a rise in both demand and price in the world market.

The exportation of rubber, tea and cashew nut showed the same promising signs. The rubber sector, for example, exported 207,000 tons of latex for $565 million.

The figures represented a decrease of 18 percent in the export volume but a surge of over 57 percent in value.

Tea exports reached 52,000 tonnes worth $70 million, showing a decrease of 1.7 percent in quantity but an increase of 6.2 percent in revenues.

Cashew-nut exports recorded an increase of over 20 percent in turnovers although the shipments abroad stayed unchanged.

Pepper export turnovers grew almost 48 percent to $234 million although the export volume climbed up just nine percent. The US kept its ranking as the biggest customer of Vietnam ’s pepper.

Coffee was the only agricultural export that suffered a drop in both turnovers and shipments. Its export turnover fell by over 16 percent to $925 million while the export volume dropped over 10 percent to 664,000 tonnes.

Economists blamed the failure to the decrease of an estimated $98 /ton in the world market in the first five months of the year and an over supply.

In regard to forest product exportation, which earned a total $1.59 billion or 29 percent increase year on year, wood and wooden furniture made a lead in growth with turnovers up almost 31 percent. The US remained the largest market, garnering almost 40 percent of Vietnam’s exports. It was followed by Japan with 12.5 percent.

Seafood exports enjoyed a growth of over 13 percent, earning $2 billion. The European Union was the largest importer of Vietnam’s seafood, generating 25.5 percent of the country’s export value at $420 million. It was followed by Japan and the US.

Source:tuoitrenews