However, the export of major export items such as rice, coffee, tea and cassava decreased in both volume and value.

The export value of key farm products was estimated at US$12.05 billion, down 11.3%, whereas seafood and forest product exports rose 9.1% and 24.4% to US$6.11 billion and US$5.12 billion respectively.

The biggest fall was seen in coffee exports, with 1.18 million tonnes shipped abroad for US$2.51 billion, down 24.4% in volume and 24.8% in value.

 Germany and the US were Vietnam’s largest coffee consumers, correspondingly making up 13% and 10.8% of the country’s total export volume.

Rice exports also declined 16.1% in volume and 18.8% in value to 6.29 million tonnes and US$2.78 billion.

On the contrary, cashew nut, pepper, and wood processors maintained steady export growth in the past 11 months.

Cashew nut businesses exported 238,000 tonnes for US$1.49 billion, up 17% in volume and 10.1% in value.

Seafood exports secured an impressive growth rate of 9.1% to hit US$6.11 billion in value.

The US was the largest importer of Vietnamese seafood, accounting for 22% of the country’s total value. It was closely followed by China, Canada and Thailand, gaining growth of 58.6%, 28.2% and 8.3% respectively over the past year.