Workers process fish for export. (Photo: VNA)

Meanwhile, imports rose 12.8% to 23.5 billion USD.

Export revenue from major product groups saw strong growth, with agricultural products earning 18.3 billion USD (up 16.8%), aquatic products 5 billion USD (up 14.5%), and forestry products 8.7 billion USD (up 8.8%). Livestock exports were valued at 264 million USD, a 10.1% increase.

Nine out of 11 key product groups recorded positive export growth, including coffee, rubber, pepper, cashew nuts, livestock, seafood, and wood products. In contrast, rice exports fell 9.8% to 2.6 billion USD, and fruit and vegetable exports dropped 17.1% to 2.7 billion USD.

The ministry aims to maintain stable export growth, consolidate traditional markets, and tap into new potential markets to achieve its 2025 export target of 65 billion USD.

It will focus on sustaining supply chains, boosting competitive product groups, maximising tax deferral periods, addressing the trade deficit with the US, and accelerating exports early in the third quarter to drive growth in the second half of the year.