The global market has turned favourable for Vietnamese exporters of products like rubber, seafood, coffee, cashew and pepper, analysts said.

Rubber prices are expected to remain high since demand is forecast to be 11.15 million tonnes against a supply of 10.95 million tonnes, according to the World Rubber Association.

Export prices have risen since the beginning of this year, reaching 100 million VND (4,800 USD) a tonne.

Dinh Van Tien, head of the Vietnam Rubber Group's import-export division, said his company had already signed contracts to export 50 percent of this year's output.

The Group exported 80,000 tonnes of rubber in January and 40,000 tonnes this month.

Vietnam should take full advantage of the opportunity at the beginning of the year when Chinese traders usually import huge volumes of Vietnamese rubber to produce motorbike and car tyres, the analysts said.

The price of rubber exported to China through the Mong Cai border has reached a record 32,600 RMB (4,444 USD) per tonne.

Exports of aquatic produce are also expected to do well since Vietnam has expanded its market, selling to 162 countries.

The Vietnam Coffee Cocoa Association expects coffee exports to top 2 billion USD if international prices continue to remain at 2,000 USD a tonne.

Do Ha Nam, deputy chairman of the association, said the coffee market would be volatile this year due to the threat of droughts in major coffee-growing countries like Brazil, Columbia, Indonesia and even Vietnam.

If supply was hit as a result, prices would go up, he said.

Vietnam exported 100,000 tonnes of coffee in January while firms have signed deals for exports through May at 2,070- 2,080 USD per tonne.

Nguyen Duc Thanh, deputy chairman of the Vietnam Cashew Association, said international prices were running high.

Cashew exports this year are expected to fetch 1.4 billion USD, 300 million USD more than last year.

Pepper is another of Vietnam 's major agricultural products that is selling at a high price globally — of around 4,600 USD per tonne. /.