HÀ NỘI — The agro-forestry-fishery sector ran a trade surplus of US$11.8 billion in the first eight months of this year, representing a rise of 68.4 per cent over the same period last year, according to statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Exports of most agricultural products saw increases in January – August, bringing the total export value to $40.08 billion in the period, up 18.6 per cent.

Major export products included timber from wood products, with a total export value of $10.24 billion, up 20.6 per cent; coffee $4.03 billion, up 36.1 per cent; rice $3.85 billion, up 21.7 per cent; cashews $2.77 billion, up 21.7 per cent; fruits and vegetables $4.63 billion, up 30.6 per cent; shrimp $2.41 billion, up 9.5 per cent; and tra fish $1.2 billion, up 8.2 per cent.

Average export prices of many agricultural products also increased significantly, including rice up by 14.8 per cent to $625 per tonne, coffee up 54.5 per cent to $3,805 per tonne, rubber up 16.6 per cent to $1,567 per tonne, pepper up 47 per cent to $4,810 per tonne and tea up 2.2 per cent to 1,756 per tonne.

Only cashew price saw a slight drop, by 1 per cent to $5,701 per tonne.

The US, China and Japan remain the three largest export market for Việt Nam’s agro-forestry-fishery products. Exports to the US accounted for 21.4 per cent of Việt Nam’s total agricultural export value, up 23.5 per cent. China accounted for 20.4 per cent, up 10.2 per cent and Japan accounted for 6.7 per cent, up 4.6 per cent.

The agriculture ministry said that the focus will be on accelerating domestic consumption and promoting exports in the remaining months of this year, taking advantage of trade deals and enhancing negotiations for official exports to China, the US and the EU.

Efforts will also be made to strengthen and expand potential markets such as Muslim countries, the Middle East and Africa, the ministry said.

In August, Việt Nam and China signed three protocols for the official exports of fresh coconuts, frozen durian and crocodiles to China, opening significant opportunities for farming.

Việt Nam and the US also in August reached an agreement on technical requirements for passion fruits to be exported to the US and initiated reviews for some other fruits including seedless lemons, guava and jackfruit. — VNS