A rice field in the Mekong Delta (Photo: VNA) An Giang (VNA) - Despite the blow struck by the COVID-19 pandemic, exports from the Mekong Delta province of An Giang grew 0.08 percent year-on-year to 358.43 million USD in the first five months of this year, according to the provincial Department of Industry and Trade.
Exports are expected to total 450.46 million USD in the first half of the year, up 4.04 percent from a year earlier.
Though the pandemic has put significant pressure on the province’s key foreign currency earners such as rice, fisheries, fruit and vegetables, and garments, these products posted growth during the period.
An Giang exported 197,890 tonnes of rice worth 102.8 million USD from January to May, equivalent to 43.95 percent of this year’s plan. It is estimated that rice exports in the first half will reach 264,430 tonnes, worth 138.85 million USD, up 4.93 percent and 8.05 percent, respectively.
It shipped 49,400 tonnes of fisheries products worth 119.09 million USD during the period, year-on-year increases of 0.03 percent and 0.47 percent, respectively. Export volumes are expected to hit 60,680 tonnes in the first six months, while value will likely reach 146.28 million USD, up 1.14 percent and 1.58 percent, respectively.
Exports of frozen fruit and vegetables amounted to 3,590 tonnes for revenue of 6.08 million USD in the first five months, down 0.75 percent and up 0.16 percent year-on-year, respectively.
Shipments of garments rose 2.98 percent year-on-year to 52.57 million USD. The first-half figure is forecast to rise 2.97 percent to 63.84 million USD.
As the coronavirus outbreak remains a complex issue in many of Vietnam’s major markets, including the US and the EU, An Giang has put substantial effort into seeking new markets for its products, said Nguyen Minh Hung, Director of the department.
The province has also provided exporters with regular updates on key foreign markets and helped them boost sales in these markets, he added./.
VNA
