Agro-forestry-fisheries trade surplus booms over 68% in eight months

The MARD attributed the eight-month result to export increases across the scope of trade items. In particular, revenue from farm produce grew 24% to US$21.32 billion, forestry products 19.7% to US$10.97 billion, fishery products 7.6% to US$6.23 billion, and animal products 0.3% to US$324 million.

Some commodities posting high export turnover are timber and wood products US$10.24 billion, up 20.6%; coffee US$4.03 billion, up 36.1%; rice nearly US$3.85 billion, up 21.7%; fruits and vegetables US$4.63 billion, up 30.6%; shrimp US$2.4 billion, up 9.5%; and tra fish US$1.19 billion, up 8.2%.

The US, China, and Japan remain the three largest importers of agro-forestry-fisheries products from Vietnam. Particularly, exports to the US have risen 23.5%, China 10.2%, and Japan 4.6%, statistics show.

MARD Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien said that aside from major and key markets like China, the US, Japan, and the EU, the agricultural sector is actively coordinating with businesses to explore new and potential markets such as the Islamic, Middle Eastern, and African countries.

Notably, he added, it is assisting companies to make use of free trade agreements, especially the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the EU - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), to boost exports.

Recently, the MARD and the General Administration of Customs China officially signed three important protocols, paving the way for exporting fresh coconut, frozen durian, and crocodile to China, expected to substantially contribute to general exports in the coming time.