Viet Nam expects to ship abroad 6.5-7 million tonnes of rice this year. — Photo epress.vn

HA NOI (Biz Hub) — Viet Nam is expected to export 517,000 tonnes of rice, valued at US$243 million this month, up 16.4 percent in volume and 19.5 percent in value over the same period last year.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, China was Viet Nam's biggest rice consumer last year, buying from the country more than 2.15 million tonnes, up 3.2 percent year-on-year.

Meanwhile, Viet Nam 's rice export to other key markets, such as Malaysia and the Philippines , decreased in both volume and value.

Viet Nam is expected to ship abroad 6.5-7 million tonnes of rice this year, equivalent to its export value in 2013 due to many difficulties in sales, forecasts the Vietnam Food Association.

According to the association, the export situation in 2014 will continue to be difficult because of excess supply and competition.

Although a decline in demand, Southeast Asia will remain Viet Nam 's traditional market. China is the largest rice importer of Viet Nam. — VNS