Vietnamese firms exported 200,000 tons of rice more in the first two weeks of June, raising the total export volume to 2.9 million tons worth $1.3 million so far this year, the Vietnam Food Association (VFA) said. Firms sold rice for $513.43/ton on average in the Jan-Jun period, up 8.5% on year, the association was cited by the state-run Nhan Dan newspaper as saying. However, export prices of Vietnamese rice dropped monthly since early 2010, VFA said. The average six-month prices fell 3.6% from the four-month prices, and 6.6% from the three-month prices, it added.
In the Jan-Apr period, Vietnam exported 2.2 million tons of rice to 17 countries and territories worldwide, earning $1.15 billion. Exports to the Philippines, the biggest buyer, dropped 70.7% in volume and 68.5% in value from a year earlier to one million tons and $640.7 million. Meanwhile, exports to Singapore, the second biggest buyer, rose 34.7% on-year in volume and 17.5% in value to 185,671 tons worth $80.2 million. Taiwan and Malaysia were the third and fourth biggest importers which spent $68.9 million and $65.1 million on 171.416 tons and 166.131 tons, down 30.1% and 59.6% in value and 21.3% and 58.1% in volume, respectively. Other big importers included Malaysia, Hong Kong, Russia, and South Africa.
