Export figures in robust shape

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Vietnam reaped $8 billion in agricultural, forest and seafood exports in the first four months, up 43.3 per cent on-year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).

Most agricultural products saw a sharp rise in export prices.

Accordingly, the price of export coffee rose nearly 50 per cent compared to the corresponding period in 2010. The country raked in $1.4 billion from coffee exports, more than double that of a year ago despite 45.4 per cent growth in coffee volumes.

Similarly, despite a growth of 31.3 per cent in volume, rubber exports brought the country $897 million in value, almost double that of a year ago.

Seafood exports came to $1.6 billion, up 29.2 per cent on-year.

The total export value of major forest products was estimated at $1.2 billion in the first four months, with $1.2 billion coming from timber and wood products, surging 52.6 per cent on-year.

Cashews, pepper and tea were also seen among strong export earners.

Vietnam exported 39,000 tonnes of cashews by end of April, 85.4 per cent in volume compared to a year ago but catching a growth of 15 per cent in value with $275 million. The price of export cashews hiked over 35 per cent over the corresponding period in 2010.

Similarly, despite a decline of 4.9 per cent in volume, pepper export earned the country $208 million in value, jumping 53.5 per cent. Average pepper export price in the first three months was $4,895 per tonne, soaring 61.8 per cent on-year.

Unlike most other products rice export saw 8.4 per cent down in the export price. Therefore, despite a 30 per cent growth in volume reaching 2.8 million tonnes, Vietnam reaped $1.4 billion only in export value, up 22.7 per cent. Indonesia and Cuba were Vietnam’s biggest rice importers.

However, businesses and farmers did not benefit much from high export values.

Agifish’s general director Nguyen Van Ky said most first quarter export contracts were inked in 2010 when input material costs remained relatively low.

“Escalating material expenses from early year until present and a sharp rise in power, water, and transport costs made most of export shipments run out of profits, even incur losses,” Ky said.

Import values of materials, fuel and fertilisers for agricultural production also hiked 9.3 per cent on-year in the first four months of 2011, reaching $4.8 billion.