Despite the difficulties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, in the first quarter of 2020, the export turnover of agricultural products still reached USD 9.06 billion, equivalent to the same period in 2019, of which, the trade surplus was nearly USD 2.9 billion.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in the first quarter of 2020, the total import-export turnover of agricultural, forestry and fishery products is estimated at nearly USD 15.2 billion; in which, export turnover reached USD 9.06 billion, equivalent to that of the same period last year; imports decreased by 13.2%, equivalent to about USD 6.2 billion. Trade surplus of nearly USD 2.9 billion (an increase of 48.9% compared to the same period last year).

The exports of most agricultural items have decreased, except for rice, vegetables, cassava, timber and timber products, rattan products, etc. Specifically, exports of rice reached 1.7 million tons, an increase of 19.9%, value reached USD 774 million; timber and timber products reached USD 2.62 billion, an increase of 15.9%, etc. The items with export turnover sharly decreased including rubber of USD 331 million, a decrease of 26.1%; tea of USD 37 million, a decrease of 19%; pepper of USD 163 million, a decrease of 13.9%; fruit of USD 836 million, a decrease of 12.5%; pangasius of USD 238 million, a decrease of 61.5%, etc.

Regarding the export market, due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the export of agricultural products to major markets has changed in market share. Accordingly, the United States holds the largest market share with export turnover of USD 2.1 billion, an increase of 18% and accounting for 23.2% of the market share; followed by China with an estimated USD 1.9 billion, a decrease of 19.4% over the same period and accounting for 21.4% of market share; EU market is estimated at USD 1.2 billion, a decrease of 0.9% and accounting for 13.1% of the market share; exports to Japan reached USD 802 million, an increase of 2.72%, accounting for 8.9% of the market share; exports to ASEAN countries reached USD 970 million, an increase of 16.4% and accounting for 10.7% of the market share.

In the first quarter, import turnover of agricultural, forestry and fishery products reached about USD 6.2 billion, a decrease of 13.2% over the same period in 2019. In particular, the import value of main agricultural, forestry and fishery products estimated at USD 5.2 billion, a decrease of 13%.

Except for the items of animal and vegetable fats and oils, wheat, rubber, soybeans and livestock products with increased import value, value of other agricultural, forestry and fishery products decreased compared to the same period in 2019. Of which, import value of fertilizer decreased by 21.9%, pesticides decreased by 23.6%, corn decreased by 35%, cashews decreased by 37.9%, fruits and vegetables decreased by 29.8%, timber and timber products decreased by 15.5% , fishery products decreased by 4.3%.

In order to promote agricultural exports in the upcoming period, among many solutions, the Government will apply strong measures for the prevention and control of Covid-19; the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Industry and Trade, together with localities and businesses to strengthen the linkage for purchase of agricultural products, promoting consumption of agricultural products in large supermarket chains to ensure adequate supply of food for people; encourage businesses to improve the quality of preservation and processing of agricultural products.

Kylie Nguyen