Animal feed is produced at Tan Viet Biotechnology Joint Stock Company in Ha Nam Province. Viet Nam imported roughly US$2 billion worth of animal feed in the first eight months of this year. — VNA/VNS Photo Vu Sinh

HCM CITY (Biz Hub) — Viet Nam has imported roughly US$2 billion of animal feed from early this year until August 15, down 6.2 per cent from the same period a year ago.

Most of the country's imported animal feed and raw materials were imported from Argentina, China, the US and Japan, according to statistics released from the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

So far this year through August 15, Viet Nam imported $1.95 billion of animal feed, a reduction of 6.2 per cent compared with the same period last year.

During the first 15 days of August, the country imported $141.87 million of animal feed, a reduction of 21.7 per cent against the same period last month, according to statistics.

Corn imports reached 194,800 tonnes, equivalent to $39.9 million, a reduction of 17.8 per cent in terms of volume and 16.5 per cent in terms of value compared to the first 15 days of July.

Soybean imports were recorded at 30,800 tonnes or $14.7 million.

During the first seven months, Viet Nam's animal feed import value from Argentina was $820.5 million, an increase of 7.3 per cent. China is Viet Nam's second biggest market for animal feed imports with a total value of $60.3 million in July, double increase against the previous month.

The US, the third biggest exporter of animal feed of Viet Nam, exported $46.07 million to the country in July, an increase of 73 per cent against June 2016. — VNS