The agro-forestry-fisheries sector is forecast to bring home 30.8billion USD from export this year, up 11.2 percent from 2013 despitelacklustre demand in markets all over the world.

The sectoralso posts an estimated 9.5 billion USD in trade surplus, a rise of 7.7percent, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Seafood is predicted to rake in 7.92 billion USD, marking ayearly growth of 18.4 percent with the US making up 21.81 percent of thetotal export value, becoming the leading seafood importer of Vietnam.

Wood and wooden products enjoy an expansion of 11.1 percent inearnings with 6.2 billion USD. The US, China and Japan are the biggestbuyers who account for 66 percent of the total sales abroad.

During the year, an estimated 1.73 million tonnes of coffee are soldfor 3.62 billion USD, up 33.4 percent in volume and 33.2 percent invalue, mostly going to Germany and the US.

Higher revenues arealso reported by exporters of vegetables (1.47 billion USD, up 34.9percent), pepper (1.2 billion USD, 34.1 percent), and cashew nuts (2billion USD, up 21.1 percent).

Rice and rubber, on thecontrary, earn less with 3 billion USD and 1.8 billion USD, down 1.9percent and 28.9 percent, respectively.

To raise grossagro-forestry-fisheries export value to 31 billion USD next year, theministry will actively work to implement multilateral and bilateralagreements in place, including the World Trade Organisation and regionalfree trade commitments.

It will stand side by side withexporters by updating them on foreign markets’ latest trade policies andjointly devising feasible market strategies for added-value products.

To extend commercial reaches, the ministry will also promotemarketing activities and promptly deal with any technical and tradebarrier.-VNA