Vietnam exports nearly 690,000 tonnes of coffee for 1.3 million USD in the first four months of 2018. (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam exported nearly 690,000tonnes of coffee for 1.3 million USD in the first four months of 2018, up 17.2percent in volume and down 0.1 percent in value from a year ago.
In April, Vietnam shipped 160,000 tonnes of coffee abroad, earning 304 million USD, up 18.7 percent but down 0.6 percent,respectively, year on year.
This month’s coffee prices averaged about 1,900 USD pertonne, down 1.7 percent from March and 16.2 percent compared to the same periodof 2017.
The average price in January – April was estimated at1,933 USD per tonne, down 14.7 percent.
Last quarter, coffee exports experienced a similarpattern as the country shipped up to 520,000 tonnes of coffee abroad for only 1billion USD, up 15.1 percent in volume but down 1.7 percent in value year onyear.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and RuralDevelopment, Germany, the US, Indonesia, Italy and Japan were among Vietnam’skey export markets. The country aims to export a total of 1.5 million tonnesfor the 2017 – 2018 crop.
Vietnam exported 1.4 million tonnes last year for 3.2billion USD. The country’s exports were down sharply last year due to a fall inoutput because of the impact of climate change, but thanks to high prices, theexport value was down by only 2.7 percent over 2016, according to the VietnamCoffee and Cocoa Association.
Vietnam is the second largest exporter behind Brazil. The country’s coffeeindustry has carried out a restructuring programme to improve itscompetitiveness by improving productivity, quality and value.
Under the programme, the country plans to keep coffee growing area at 600,000haand focus on planting new trees with higher productivity and quality.-VNA
VNA
