Exports of agroforestry and seafood in the first 11 months of this year rose year-on-year nearly 22.5 percent to 17.23 billion USD, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Of the turnover, export of agricultural products contributed 8.82 billion USD, seafood reached 4.55 billion USD and forestry products made up 3.23 billion USD.

In the reviewed period, Vietnam exported 6.3 million tonnes of rice for 2.95 billion USD, up 12.3 percent and 17.8 percent in terms of quantity and value. The Philippines remained Vietnam ’s largest rice consumption market, accounting for almost 35 percent of the country’s total rice exports.

Meanwhile, China was the largest market for Vietnam ’s rubber, making up 58.5 percent of the country’s total rubber exports.

Vietnam shipped 672,000 tonnes of rubber worth 1.92 billion USD in the Jan-Nov period, increases of 4.84 percent in quantity and 86.37 percent in value.

Tea exports saw an increase, with an average value of 1,466 USD per tonne during the past 10 months, a rise of 12 percent over the same period last year.

The country sold abroad 125,000 tonnes of tea earning 182 million USD in 11 months. Pakistan remained Vietnam ’s largest tea consumer.

Vietnam continued its run as the world’s leading cashew exporter, with 179,000 tonnes shipped over the past 11 months, ranking in 1 billion USD, the highest value so far.

The US led Vietnam ’s cashew importers with 33 percent of the total export, followed by China and the Netherlands .

In addition, Vietnam ranked first in the world in terms of pepper exports. The country exported 110,000 tonnes of pepper worth 390 million USD, down nearly 13 percent in terms of quantity and up 21 percent in terms of value.

Vietnam ’s largest pepper importers are the US , Germany and the United Arabian Emirates.

Exports of timber and wooden products saw a sharp increase, with rises of 31 percent in the US and 19 percent in Japan .

Seafood also obtained significant results, with exports to the US rising 27 percent; Japan , 17 percent; and the Republic of Korea , 18 percent.

However, in the reviewed period, the agriculture sector imported materials worth 11.58 billion USD, up nearly 38 percent over the same period last year, in order to maintain production./.