AGRO-FORESTRY-FISHERY EXPORTS EXPAND 5.9% IN Q1

Workers load sacks of harvested rice onto a vehicle - PHOTO: VNA

HCMC – Vietnam’s agro-forestry-fishery exports reached an estimated US$16.69 billion in the first quarter of 2026, up 5.9% from a year earlier, according to data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.

The sector posted a trade surplus of US$4.78 billion, up 12% year-on-year. Exports in March were estimated at US$6.02 billion, rising 47.8% from February but slipping 1.5% year-on-year.

Farm produce accounted for US$8.93 billion in the first quarter, up 4.1%. Livestock exports surged 54.3% to US$197.7 million, while seafood exports increased 13.3% to US$2.62 billion.

Forestry exports edged down 2.4% to US$4.11 billion. Exports of production inputs reached US$834.3 million. Salt exports climbed 31.7% to US$3.3 million.

Asia remained the largest market, accounting for 45.1% of total exports. The Americas made up 20.7%, followed by Europe at 16.2%.

Exports to Asia rose 15.3% year-on-year. Shipments to Europe and Oceania increased 4.8% and 20.1%, respectively. Exports to the Americas fell 3.4%, while those to Africa dropped 29%.

China was the largest single market with a 22.1% share, followed by the United States at 18.3% and Japan at 7.1%. Exports to China jumped 37.6%, while shipments to Japan edged up 0.7%. Exports to the United States declined 5.2%.

Several products recorded strong growth. Pepper exports reached 64,600 tons worth US$417.5 million, up 36.8% in volume and 28.8% in value, despite a 5.9% decline in average prices.

Rubber exports totaled 411,200 tons valued at US$751.8 million, rising 8% in volume and 2.4% in value. Growth in Indonesia and India offset declines in China.

Fruit and vegetable exports picked up 32.1% to US$1.54 billion. China remained the main market, accounting for 54% of the total, with exports to that market surging 76.2%. Shipments to the United States and South Korea also increased.

Coffee exports reached 577,300 tons worth US$2.71 billion, up 12.6% in volume but down 6.4% in value due to a 16.9% drop in average export prices. Exports to Germany and Spain increased, while Italy and the Philippines declined.

Rice exports totaled 2.3 million tons worth US$1.11 billion, up 0.2% in volume but down 7.8% in value due to lower prices. Cashew exports fell 1.8% in value to US$823.5 million.

Imports of agro-forestry-fishery products reached US$11.91 billion in the first quarter, up 3.6% year-on-year. March imports were estimated at US$4.46 billion, rising 37% from the previous month and 6.6% from a year earlier.

Agricultural imports rose 6.3% to US$7.62 billion. Livestock imports increased 10% to US$1.16 billion. Forestry imports rose 16.1%, while seafood imports fell 1.8%. Imports of production inputs dropped 13%.

Asia and the Americas were the largest import sources, accounting for 27.7% and 26.6% of total imports.

The United States, China, and Brazil were the top suppliers, with respective shares of 11.8%, 9.9%, and 9.8%. Imports from these markets rose 53.4%, 13.3%, and 11.1% year-on-year.

Source: The Saigon Times