Vietnam Agricultural Ministry Cuts Export Outlook in 2009
The Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has decided to lower export target in 2009 to US$12.5 billion, down by US$3.7 billion from 2008, state media reported, citing a MARD official.
Nguyen Thanh Bien, deputy minister of the Industry and Trade, said the world will have a bumper crop in 2009, and farm produce prices may decrease next year.
Vietnam is estimated to rake in US$16.24 billion from exporting agricultural, forestry and seafood products in 2008, up 22.7 per cent against previous year.
Of the total, seafood brought in the most with total export revenue of US$4.562 billion, up 21.2 per cent on year. Following was woodwork with US$2.779 billion, up 15.6 per cent on year.
Meanwhile, rice export generated in US$2.9 billion, with total volume of 4.72 million tons, up 94.8 per cent and 3.6 per cent, respectively.
The country also exported more than one million tons of coffee and 645,000 tons of rubber, notching up US$2.022 billion and US$1.597 billion, respectively.
Exports of fruits and vegetables hit US$396 million; pepper, US$313 million; cashew nuts, US$920 million; and tea, US$147 million in 2008, according to the General Statistics Office. (Vietnam Economic Times, GSO December Edition)
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