Agro-forestry-fishery exports totalled 26.1 billion USD in the first eightmonths of this year, representing a drop of 0.9 percent over the same periodlast year while the country imported farming products worth 19.9 billion USD, afall of 2.5 percent.
The US was the largest export market of Vietnamese agro-forestry-fisheryproducts with a revenue of more than 6.3 billion USD in January-August,a year-on-year increase of 14.2 percent.
China came second with revenue of 6.28 billion USD, a drop of 10.1 percent.
Agro-forestry-fishery exports to other major markets also saw decreases, such asto the EU with a revenue of 2.5 billion USD, falling by 2.2 percent, ASEANmarket 2.24 billion USD, down by 11.4 percent, Japan 2.2 billion USD, down by1.8 percent.
Products which saw increases in exports included rice worth 2.2 billion USD, up10.4 percent, vegetables 487 million USD, up 12.8 percent, cassava 108 millionUSD, up 95 percent, shrimp 2.4 billion USD, up 11.4 percent and wood products 7.3billion, up 9.6 percent.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said as the COVID-19 pandemicsignificantly affected agro-forestry-fishery exports, the ministry from thebeginning of this year focused on implementing measures to remove difficultiesand promote exports to key markets.
The market development was watched to provide warnings, especially about newrules of import markets, to actively adjust production and avoid puttingpressure on the domestic consumption.
Negotiations to expand markets were also promoted.
As the COVID-19 pandemic was still causing difficulties, the ministry said thatclose watch would be placed on the markets which were heavily affected by thepandemic, such as cross-border trade of agricultural products to China, so thatsolutions would be developed to facilitate exports.
The ministry would also focus on implementing measures to increase pork supplyand stabilise prices./.
