VIETNAM, July 1 - HÀ NỘI — The agro-forest-fishery sector is showing robust exports, with a trade surplus of US$8.28 billion in the first half of this year, representing an increase of 62.4 per cent over the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The latest updates of the agriculture ministry showed that Việt Nam earned $29.2 billion from exporting agro-forestry-fishery products in the period, up 19 per cent.

Major export products included coffee, rubber, rice, fruits and vegetables, cashew nuts, shrimp and wood products.

Specifically, rice exports reached 4.68 million tonnes worth $2.98 billion, up 10.4 per cent and 32 per cent, respectively.

Cashew exports reached 350,000 tonnes worth $1.92 billion, up 24.9 per cent and 17.4 per cent, respectively.

Coffee exports, despite seeing a drop of 10.5 per cent in volume to 902,000 tonnes, saw a rise of 34.6 per cent in value to $3.22 billion on rising export prices.

Five products which saw the highest trade surplus including timber and wood products (a trade surplus of $6.16 billion, up 22.5 per cent), coffee ($3.14 billion, up 36.2 per cent), fruits and vegetables ($2.42 billion, up 35.3 per cent), rice ($2.31 billion, up 27 per cent) and shrimp ($1.43 billion, up 13.3 per cent).

The US, China and Japan remain the largest export market for Việt Nam, according to the ministry. — VNS