Export of agricultural products increased by nearly 25% in the first 4 months

The total import-export turnover of agricultural, forestry and aquatic products is estimated at US$ 32.07 billion accordingly. In particular, the export value reached about US$ 17.15 billion, increased by 24.2% compared with the same period of last year. Vietnam's agricultural products also kept the balance of trade surplus, estimated at US$ 2.2 billion.

Particularly, export turnover in April 2021 was estimated at US$ 4.45 billion, increased by 29.1% compared with April 2020 but decreased by 13.3% from March 2021. Specially, the export value of the main agricultural products group, the main forest products, the seafood, and the husbandry were estimated at US$ 1.53 billion, US$ 1.29 billion, US$ 650 million and US$ 36 million, respectively.

Concerning imports, after the first 4 months of 2021, the turnover of agricultural products was estimated at US$ 14.93 billion, increased by 48.7% compared with the same period in 2020.

Specifically, the import value of key agricultural products was estimated at US$ 5.01 billion, increased by 121.9%. Livestock products group was about US$ 1.38 billion, increased by 36.9%. The seafood group was estimated at US$ 679 million, increased by 22.1%. The main forest products group was about US$ 997.4 million, increased by 33.7%. The group of inputs and production was about US$ 2.31 billion, increased by 40.1%.

Favorable weather is one of the reasons for these positive advantages. In addition, there are also factors such as the whole industry joining in, guiding localities to effectively implement production plans and prevention of diseases on crops and animals. The consumption of domestic products and market opening was also promoted.

Vietnam's agriculture will have GDP growth of 103.74%; and the export turnover of agriculture, forestry and fishery is estimated at over $9.7 billion in the second quarter of 2021, according to the targets of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

In addition, the targets of total rice production, live pork output, poultry meat production, seafood output, and logging output are 9.5 million tons, 865 million tons, 368 million tons, 2.4 million tons, and 4.85 million m3, respectively.

Agricultural exports in the world showed signs of decreasing from 2019. Covid-19 broke out in early 2020, contributing to a dramatic change in the global agricultural market. According to the Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development, about 60 countries have adjusted their agricultural trade policies to respond to the pandemic, including the US, China, Russia, India and Korea.

Cereals are a commodity that is of particular concern during the pandemic, because this is a factor that helps stabilize food security. The grain price index increased sharply from the end of 2020, leading to the increase in the food price index.

Effectively performance of the "dual goal" - ensuring food security and keeping the growth momentum of agro-forestry-seafood exports is the main task to face with the complicated developments of the Covid-19 and the fluctuations of the world economy.

Leaders of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development suggested provinces and cities, especially localities that sufferred or influenced directly by Covid-19, to monitor and capture information and data on prices, production situation, and supply of agricultural products.

The concerned authorities must grasp the price situations, the supply of essential food products, to promptly report to the Domestic Market Management Team and the Government Price Steering Committee.

For international markets, the agricultural sector needs a seminar on Quota regulations for agricultural products, under the EVFTA and UKVFTA Agreements. 

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will organize a workshop to exchange information, market regulations, control seafood import and export with China in June 2021. In addition, the Ministry will print the dissemination handbook to guide market regulations, technical barriers in agricultural trade, and orient the export of agricultural products in key markets.