International Trade

Despite difficulties, Vietnam’s rice exports have remained stable over the last few years thanks to low prices. However, this advantage may not help in the future as the world market has seen major changes. According to VFA, Vietnam exported nearly 500,000 tons of rice in January 2016, an increase of 56 percent in quantity and 46 percent in value.  The increase was explained by higher demand from the Philippines and Indonesia which had a serious drought and needed to buy rice for stockpile.

Coffee exports from Vietnam, the biggest producer of robusta beans, may fall to the lowest in six years as farmers hold out for higher prices amid a forecast global supply shortage, according to the nation’s largest shipper. Shipments are forecast at 1.1 million to 1.2 million metric tons this year, Do Ha Nam, the chief executive officer of Intimex Group, said in an interview last week. That would be the lowest level since 2010, according to customs data.

According to Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), regarding to the implementation of final inspection rule on pangasius as required by Agricultural Act of 2014, USDA is committed not to interrupt the pangasius export from Vietnam to USA. In mid-February, MARD has established inter-ministerial delegation led by Deputy Head of MARD - Mr.Vu Van Tam to the United State and worked with USDA, United States Trade Representative (USTR), senior consultants of Members of Parliament from the Senate and House of Commons, and other related organizations and individuals in US. At the same time, MARD formed a technical groups to discuss in detail and clarify the differences in interpretation, application and Vietnam preparation to meet new requirements of final rule.

According to Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), estimated volume of imported fertilizer of all kinds in February is 184 thousand tons with $64 million in value, accumulated to the volume of imported fertilizer in the first 2 months at 561 thousand tons with $167 million in value, increase by 10.6 % in volume but reduced by 3.1% in value compared to the same period of 2015.