The Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang has recorded an export turnover of nearly 481 million USD so far this year, increasing 14.63 percent over the same period last year.

According to the provincial Statistics Department, the results were due to success in seafood exports, which saw a 26.21 percent rise year on year to hit 450.5 million USD.

However, exports of the agro-forestry sector were low at 29.11 million USD, equivalent to just 41.6 percent of the set target and down 49 percent over the previous year, the department said.

A particularly sharp fall was seen in both export volume and value of rice by 60,000 tonnes and an average 18 USD per tonne, the department added.

The reason behind the drop was the fierce competition from other strong exporters such as Thailand , India , Pakistan and the emerging exporters of Myanmar and Cambodia , it revealed.

Other currency earners from Soc Trang included mushrooms, eggs, fruit and machinery.-VNA