Export rice bags at a port in Viet Nam. The country exported 1.4 million tonnes of rice to the Philippines in the first half of this year. — Photo vietnambiz.vn

Viet Nam exported 3.9 million tonnes of rice, earning US$1.9 billion, in the first seven months of this year, according to the Department of Agro Processing and Market Development under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Export volume fell 1.4 per cent but increased by 10.9 per cent in value over the same period last year.

The department also said that in the first half of this year, the Philippines ranked first in Viet Nam's rice export market with nearly 37 per cent of total rice exports.

Viet Nam exported 1.4 million tonnes of rice to the Philippines, earning $635 million, up 13.3 per cent and 30.5 per cent, respectively, over the same period last year.

Other markets with strong growth in rice exports included Senegal (up 19.6 times), Indonesia (2.8 times) and China (nearly 90 per cent).

Viet Nam’s average rice export price in the first six months hit $487.6 per tonne, 13 per cent higher than the same period in 2019, reported Tien phong (Vanguard) newspaper.

According to the department, on the world market, the export price of Thai rice in July fluctuated between $440-515 per tonne. Viet Nam’s rice export prices in the month were between $415 – 457 per tonne. The export prices of Indian rice were between $373 and 382 per tonne. — VNS