The agro-forestry-fishery recorded a trade surplus of US$6.2 billion, a year-on-year increase of 4.9%, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) said Thursday. 

The sector's total trade volume rose by 4.9% to nearly US$ 46 billion in the first eight months, of which export turnover was estimated at US$ 26.1 billion, down 0.9% against the same period last year while the import value dipped 2.5% to US$ 19.9 billion. 

In August alone, export turnover of the agro-forestry-fishery sector was estimated at US$ 3.6 billion, representing a month-on-month increase of 3.5% including US$ 1.6 billion of agricultural products (up 7.8%); US$ 1.2 billion of forestry products (up 1%); US$ 800 million of aquatic products (up 0.5%); and US$ 31 million of breeding products (up 18.4%).

In January-August period, top export items include rice (US$2.2 billion, up 10.4%), vegetables (US$487 million, up 12.8%), cassavan (US$108 million, up 94.9%).

The U.S. was the biggest importer of Viet Nam, accounting for 24.13% of the Southeast Asian country's export volume, with over US$ 6.3 billion, followed by China with US$ 6.28 billion./.