Illustrative photo. (Photo: VNA)

In the first four months of this year, over 30,000 tonnes of Vietnamese rice were shipped to EU nations, earning the country some 23 million USD, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s Agency of Foreign Trade.

Italy rose to the top of EU importers, with spending on Vietnamese rice surging 26-fold year-on-year. Other major buyers included Germany, France, the Netherlands and Sweden.

Under the EVFTA, the EU is committed to purchasing 80,000 tonnes of rice annually from Viet Nam, which will enjoy zero duties in 3-5 years.

The shipments include 30,000 tonnes of milled rice, 20,000 tonnes of unmilled rice and 30,000 tonnes of fragrant rice.