HCM CITY (Biz Hub) — Viet Nam exported nearly 315,000 tonnes of rice as of January 28, an increase of 46 per cent compared with the same period last year, according to the Viet Nam Food Association.

The rice exports were shipped at US$127 million in free on board (FOB) value and $135 million in cost, insurance and freight (CIF) value, up 39 and 42.5 per cent, respectively.

According to the association, the increase in rice exports last month was due to the fact that Viet Nam's rice exporters had to complete government-to-government deals with the Philippines and Indonesia.

Last year, Viet Nam exported 6.5 million tonnes for $2.68 billion, a decrease of 3.9 percent in value. Asian countries were the main buyers, accounting for 74.5 per cent of exports, followed by Africa (13.7 percent), and the US (6.7 per cent).

The association forecast that rice export volume this year excluding border trade is expected to remain the same as last year's. — VNS