However, seacooking exports fell 5.9 percent to earn US$1.21 billion. The US was Vietnam’s leading seafood importer, consuming 18.85 percent of the total volume, followed by Japan (14.93 percent) and the Republic of Korea (6.73 percent).

Rice exports grew 34.3 percent in volume to 1.38 million tonnes, but still declined 5.7 percent in value to US$616 million.

The tea sector sold 29,000 tonnes overseas for US$43 million, down 14.1 percent in volume, but up 2.5 percent in value. Pakistan remained Vietnam’s largest tea importer with 17.6 percent of the market share.

The pepper sector shipped 39,000 tonnes overseas for US$242 million, down 15.4 percent in volume but up 11.6 percent in value. Major pepper importers included the US (21.13 percent of the total), Germany (11.16 percent), the United Arab Emirates (7.39 percent) and Singapore (6.77 percent).

The timber processing sector defied expectations, increasing its three-month export revenue by 16.5 percent to US$1.18 billion. Timber exports to China rose 63 percent, to the Republic of Korea 27.55 percent, to Japan 16.32 percent and to the US 13.18 percent.

Economists say the global economic recession continues to impact the Vietnamese economy and has negatively affected farm produce exports. Establishing technical specifications instead of non-tariff protection measures is also causing difficulty for agricultural exports. 

VOV