Agro, forestry, aquatic trade surplus doubles in nine months

Exports reached about US$40.8 billion while imports totalled US$33.9 billion, up 15.2% and 5.7%, respectively, year-on-year, and this means the trade surplus of the sector amounted to US$6.9 billion, doubling the same period last year.

In September alone, exports spurred 28.7% compared to the same month last year to over US$4.2 billion. However, the figure was 8.8% lower than the previous month’s.

Last month’s export turnover from major agricultural products exceeded US$1.8 billion, while those from forestry products and seafood stood at over US$1.3 billion and US$900 million, respectively.

During the nine-month period, Vietnam exported more than US$16.8 billion worth of key agro products, a year-on-year increase of 7.5%. Shipments of major forestry products valued around US$13.3 billion and seafood, US$8.5 billion, up 10.8% and 38%, respectively.

Seven products with export revenue surpassing US$2 billion each include coffee, rubber, rice, vegetables and fruits, shrimp, and wood.

High upturn was seen in the export of coffee (37.6%), cassava (21%), tra fish (83.3%), and shrimp (24.8%).

A downturn, meanwhile, was recorded in some others, including vegetables and fruits (11.1%), cashew nuts (14%), and livestock products (18.4%).

The US remained Vietnam’s largest buyer, spending over US$10.5 billion which accounts for 25.8% of the total. It was, again, followed by China (US$7.4 billion) and Japan (US$3.1 billion).

A total of 4,597 Production Unit Codes (PUCs) and 1,419 Packing House Codes (PHCs) have been granted in Vietnam, enabling exporters to ship fresh fruits such as dragon fruit, mango, banana, pomelo, longan and lychee to major markets like China, the US, Australia, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, and Japan.