Rice export support needed

The trade ministry judges that the war in Iraq will not exert a serious impact on Vietnam’s rice exports this year because many countries may want to import more rice for reserve. Hence, the plan to export 3.5 million tonnes of rice this year can be fulfilled.

The ministry also recommends that support measures are needed to boost rice exports to Iran and Angola because Vietnamese rice must face fierce competition from Thai rice in these two markets. Objectives are also set to export a further 250,000 tonnes of rice to Indonesia and try to participate in ODA bids for rice in other countries.

In the first quarter of this year, Vietnam exported about 844,000 tonnes of rice, up by nearly 80% against the same period last year. Earnings from rice exports reached US$146 million, up by nearly 50%. In March, exported rice however fell slightly by over 50,000 tonnes against February because of the war in Iraq, which meant some rice export contracts were not carried out.

 

Category: Legal