Revenue from agricultural exports in March is estimated at 1.1 billion USD, raising the sector’s export turnover in the first quarter to 3.4 billion USD, a year-on-year increase of 56 percent, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

During the reviewed period, most agricultural products increased in both volume and value due to advantages in market and price, the ministry said.

The country shipped 504,000 tonnes of coffee abroad, earning 1 billion USD, up 46.1 percent in volume and two times in value compared to the same period last year.

In the first quarter, the price of coffee exports reached a record of over 1,990 USD per tonne, meanwhile, coffee in the domestic market was also sold at a high price of 47,000 VND per kilogram.

The US, Belgium and Italy were Vietnam ’s major coffee importers.

Vietnam reaped 798 million USD from exporting 179,000 tonnes of rubber, a rise of nearly 45 percent in volume and 2.5 times in value. The average price of rubber exports stood at 4,466 USD per tonne.

The rubber industry retained its position in large markets, with China taking over 62 percent of the market share.

In the first three months of this year, the country shipped 600,000 tonnes of rice abroad, raking in 300 million USD. Idonesia was still Vietnam ’s largest rice consumption market, accounting for nearly 40 percent of the country’s total rice exports.

Vietnam also exported 28,000 tonnes of cashew nuts worth 194 million USD, a drop of 9.8 percent in quantity and an increase of 21.7 percent in value. However, the sector is facing obstacles posed by the shortage of raw material./.