Speaking to the press inHCM City on April 9, Pham Van Bay, VFA deputy chairman, said thatbusinesses had exported 1.08 million tonnes of rice for a free-on-board(FOB) value of 529.8 million USD in the first quarter of the year.
This was a fall of 41.19 percent in volume and 40.15 percent in value compared to the same period last year.
The number of export contracts in the first two months of the year hadfell considerably compared to the same period last year.
However, exports picked up in March, with export contracts increasing by 12 percent compared to March last year.
Asian countries have been the main buyers of Vietnamese rice during this period.
An increase in rice imports from China in the past few months hashelped local exporters, with the figure expected to remain high untilthe end of the year, due to high demand.
Exports toAfrica in the first three months accounted for 20 percent of thecountry's total rice exports, as stock fell in a number of countriesthere.
In addition, the price and quality of Vietnameserice has been more competitive than other exporters, including Indiaand Pakistan .
As for the national programme tostockpile one million tonnes of rice, Bay said enterprises had bought693,894 tonnes of rice as of April 6. The programme is expected to endon April 15 instead of April 30 as previously scheduled.-VNA