HA NOI — Exports of farm and forestry products in May reached a value of US$582 million, an increase of 26 per cent over the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The latest figure brings total agricultural and forestry export turnover in the first five months of 2006 to $2.85 billion, up 25 per cent year-on-year, with agricultural products accounting for $2 billion of the total, it added.

The ministry attributed the surge in export turnover to a greater number of sales contracts being signed and to rising prices on several export staples.

While Viet Nam has exported 450,000 tonnes of coffee since January 1, representing a 6 per cent increase in export volume, rising prices led to a 61 per cent leap in earnings to over $512 million, it said.

The ministry reported a similar picture in the rubber production sector. While the volume of exports rose by 37 per cent this year to 211,000 tonnes, export revenue more than doubled to $358 million on higher prices.

Forestry and wood product producers also posted significant revenue gains, with furniture exports earning $778 million and rattan and bamboo products bringing in another $79 million, up 29 and 8 per cent, respectively, over the same period last year, the ministry reported.

Rice exports, however, saw more modest gains of 4 per cent in volume and 1.5 per cent in value, due to prices slipping by 2-5 per cent. The nation has exported 2.24 million tonnes of rice valued at $626 million so far this year, it said. — VNS