Export agricultural products reach US$2.8 billion in four months

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in the first four months of 2020, the total import-export turnover of agricultural, forestry and fishery products is estimated at nearly US$21.1 billion. Of which exports reached US$11.9 billion, down 4.9% over the same period last year; imports were estimated at US$9.17 billion, down 5.2%; trade surplus was nearly US$2.8 billion, down 4.1%.

Inexports, by the end of April, the main agricultural products were estimated at nearlyUS$5.8 billion, down 4.5%; main forest products reachedUS$3.4 billion, up 3.9%; fishery was estimated at US$2.2 billion, down 10.0%; husbandry is estimated at US$150 million, down by 23.8%.

Most export products saw decreased turnover, exceptcoffee, cashews, vegetables, wood and wood products, cinnamon and rattan.

The items that fell most were rubber with US$383 million (down 31.1%); tea reached US$53 million (down 14.1%); pepper reached US$249 million (down 12%); Pangasius reached US$420 million (down 31.9%).

Regarding export markets, in the four months, China is still the market with the largest market share with export turnover of nearly US$2.8 billion, down by 17.7% compared to the same period last year and accounting for 23.4%market share; next is the United States estimated at US$2.78 billion, down 13.9% over the same period last year and accounting for 23.33% market share.

In order to develop the export markets, theMinistry of Agriculture and Rural Development has closely monitored the situation of exporting agricultural products through the border gates with China; worked with China to identify specific measures to ensure goods clearance, good disease control; and promote the restructuring of import-export market in a sustainable manner.

Besides, we should develop plans and scenarios for exporting agricultural products to meet the increasing demand when China controls the pandemic; focusing on resolving technical barriers, negotiating market expansion (expanding recognition of production areas, types of products, exporting enterprises) to EU countries, Eurasian Economic Union, USA and Brazil and export seafood to Saudi Arabia.