Vietnam gains 28.04 billion USD from exporting agro-forestry-fishery products in the first five months of the year. (Photo: congthuong.vn)

Viet Nam shipped 6.28 billion USD worth of agro-forestry-fishery products abroad in May, propelling the cumulative total for the first five months of the year to 28.04 billion USD, a year-on-year increase of 19.6% and 15.1%, respectively, heard a press conference in Ha Noi on June 3.

Breaking down the figures, agricultural products accounted for 15.29 billion USD, up 16.3% while livestock products totalled 217.2 milion USD, an 11.7% increase. Meanwhile, aquatic products grew by 15.1% to 4.11 billion USD and forestry products 11.7% to 7.48 billion USD.

Coffee stood out as a flagship export commodity, with 835,900 tonnes of the item sold abroad during the five – month span, a slight increase of 0.9% in volume but a remarkable jump of 65.1% jump in value as compared to the same time last year. The average export price surged 63.7% to over 5,700 USD.

Rubber, cashew, and pepper exports also posted double-digit growth of 18.2%, 14.2%, and 13.6% to 1.02 billion USD, 1.8 billion USD, and 684.4 million USD, respectively.

Rice exports hit 4.5 million tonnes worth 2.34 billion USD, a 12.2% volume increase but an 8.9% decline in value compared to 2024. Average rice prices dropped 18.7% to 516 USD per tonne. The Philippines was Viet Nam's largest rice customer with a 41.4% market share, followed by Ivory Coast at 11.9% and China at 10.3%.

Meanwhile, fruit and vegetable exports saw a 16% decrease in value to 2.24 billion USD. China remained the dominant market for the products, accounting for 46.1% of export value; however, exports to China dropped 32.8% year-on-year.

Geographically, Asia continues to dominate Viet Nam’s agricultural export landscape, accounting for 42%, followed by the Americas and Europe with 23% and 16.1%. Africa and Oceania represented small shares of 3.3% and 1.3%.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Phung Duc Tien said while restructuring in the sector has laid a solid foundation for growth, Viet Nam has yet to reach its peak potential. Against the backdrop, the ministry is advocating further economic reform and proposing amendments to several legal documents regarding power delegation and decentralisation, and administrative reform, creating motives to complete export targets.

Competent agencies are handling market access issues to facilitate agricultural and aquatic product exports to key markets including China, the US, Japan, and the EU, while exploring new markets like Halal-certified countries, the Middle East, and Africa.

Tien said the ministry has kept close tabs on prices and supply of essential food while coordinating with provinces to enhance processing and consumption of agricultural products. Due attention has been paid to popularising market information and consumer taste through trade offices in foreign countries as well as e-commerce platforms, particularly during the harvest seasons of several staples like lychee, longan, and durian.