Viet Nam exported 88,000 tonnes of tea in the first eight months of the year, earning US$140 million, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

HA NOI (Biz Hub)— Viet Nam exported 88,000 tonnes of tea in the first eight months of the year, earning US$140 million, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Last month alone, the country exported 14,000 tonnes of tea, bringing a turnover of $23 million.

The average price of exported tea reached $1,584 per tonne last month, representing a 4.9 per cent increase on the same period last year.

However, tea volume exported to Pakistan, Viet Nam's biggest customer, fell 19.2 and 19.15 per cent in terms of quantity and value respectively.

The ministry said tea exports saw a surge in the US (36.5 per cent), United Arab Emirates (43.2 per cent), Germany (7.9 per cent) and Poland (18.3 per cent) against the corresponding period last year, helping to cushion the blow.

Doan Anh Tuan, chairman of the Viet Nam Tea Association said tea production, processing and consumption had seen high growth in the past few years.

However, the sector had faced shortcomings due to its small production scale. Farming households, which accounted for 65 per cent of total tea growing areas, were only 70-75 per cent as capable as larger businesses.

Enterprises and farmers also lacked distribution networks, he added.

He said the sector should review its planning and arrange tea processing plants. Each plant should have plantations and policies to encourage farmers to become shareholders.

In addition, the country should build a centre to verify tea quality according to international standards. — VNS