The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) attributed this to negative fluctuations in the world economy.

The agricultural staples earned $3.2 billion, 14 percent lower than in the same period last year, while earnings from seafood and forestry products were estimated at $1.2 billion and $922 million, respectively.

Even with less pressure from Thailand, Vietnam still faced tough competition from other rice exporters like India, Myanmar, and Pakistan, which offer rice at lower prices.

The country exported 1.3 million tonnes of rice in the first quarter to fetch US$681 million, 32 percent and 29.5 percent lower in volume and value as compared with the same period last year.

Indonesia remained the largest importer of Vietnamese rice, accounting for one third of the country's total rice exports in terms of both volume and value. The markets of Hong Kong, Taiwan, and mainland China also showed some encouraging signs of bouncing back.

The global economic meltdown has also pushed rubber exports into a gloomy state, causing a sharp decline in price.

In the first quarter, Vietnam’s rubber exports rose dramatically by more than 40 percent in volume but decreased by 10 percent in value. For instance, 228,000 tonnes of rubber could earn US$640 million.

Judging from a dramatic drop in coffee consumption in Europe, Vietnam decided to ship large volumes to new markets such as Indonesia, Algeria, and Mexico.

But its total coffee exports decreased by 12 percent in volume and 14.3 percent in value.

The amount of tea exported to Pakistan, a large importer of Vietnamese tea, equalled only two thirds of that for the same quarter last year. However, tea exports to other markets grew dramatically - Indonesia (three times), Saudi Arabia (nearly 2.5 times), Poland (over 40 percent), and the US (30 percent).

In the first quarter, Vietnam exported a total of 29,000 tonnes of tea and earned US$41 million, up 14.5 percent and 17 percent, respectively, from a year earlier.

In addition, Vietnam exported only 24,000 tonnes of pepper, down 7.5 percent in volume but earned US$164 million, up 29 percent in value compared to the same period last year.

Vietnam’s seafood exports fell sharply in the EU market but increased considerably in other markets - Japan (by 22.9 percent), the Republic of Korea (by 23.8 percent), and Mexico (by 65.9 percent).

Regarding seafood exporting businesses, the MARD emphasized the need to ensure food safety and hygiene standards.

(VOVNEWS)