Agro-aquatic-forestry exports up 13% in eight months

Of the figure, agricultural product exports reached nearly US$15 billion, up 7.4 percent while forestry and aquatic exports hit over US$11.8 billion and US$7.5 billion, witnessing respective growth rates of 6.2 percent and 35.3 percent.

Key export items included timber (US$11 billion, up 6.5 percent), shrimp (US$3 billion, up 22 percent), tra fish (US$1.7 billion, up 82.6 percent), coffee (US$2.8 billion, up 40.3 percent), rubber (US$2 billion, up 8.1 percent) and rice (US$2.3 billion, up 8.1 percent). 

The U.S. remained the largest importer of Viet Nam's farm products with nearly US$9.6 billion, accounting for 26.4 percent. It was followed by China (US$6.5 billion), Japan (US$2.7 billion) and the Republic of Korea (US$1.7 billion).  

Meanwhile, during the reviewed period, the nation spent US$29.9 billion on importing farm products, up 3.9 percent on year. 

The trade surplus of this sector was estimated at US$6.3 billion, up 94.6 percent.