Workers at KTCFOOD in Kien Giang Province process fish for export. The agro, forestry, fisheries export turnover in July was estimated at US$2.64 billion, lifting the sector's export value in the first seven months to reach $17.8 billion. — VNA/VNS Photo Le Huy Hai

HA NOI (Biz Hub) — The agro, forestry, fisheries export turnover in July was estimated at US$2.64 billion, lifting the sector's export value in the first seven months to reach $17.8 billion, up 5.1 per cent year-on-year.

According to the agriculture and rural development ministry, the country exported 2.93 million tonnes of rice in the reviewed period, earning $1.32 billion. The exports, however, fell 18.4 per cent in volume and 14.4 per cent in value year-on-year.

China remained the largest importer of Vietnamese rice, accounting for more than 35 per cent of the market share. Indonesia came second with 11.6 per cent.

Over the last seven months, pepper exports experienced a 26 per cent year-on-year increase in quantity to reach 122,000 tonnes. But the turnover surged only 9 per cent year-on-year to touch $988 million due to a 13 per cent drop in export prices.

Likewise, the average export price of coffee in the period also plunged by 15.6 per cent year-on-year. As a result, coffee exports earned $1.98 billion in turnover, up 18 per cent year-on-year, despite a significant 38 per cent growth in volume at 1.13 million tonnes.

A decrease of 15 per cent in export prices was also seen in the rubber industry. From January to July, rubber exports stood at 564,000 tonnes, worth nearly $705 million, representing an 8.8 per cent growth in volume, but a 7 per cent fall in value year-on-year.

The volume of tea exports in the first seven months rose by 5 per cent to touch 69,000 tonnes, but the value declined slightly by 2 per cent at $110 million.

Among major farm produce, cashew nut exports increased in both value and volume. The sector earned $1.46 billion from shipping 189,000 tonnes of products overseas, surging 9 per cent and 3 per cent in value and volume, respectively, year-on-year.

The value of seafood exports for the seven-month period topped an estimated $3.65 billion, a yearly rise of 3.3 per cent, while the forestry export turnover grew a modest 1 per cent to reach about $3.98 billion, with the US, Japan and China being the largest importers. — VNS