Firms to export 3.5m tonnes of rice in 2013
HCM CITY (VNS)— Local companies in the first quarter of the year signed contracts to export 3.5 million tonnes of rice in 2013, according to the chairman of the Viet Nam Food Association (VFA).
Truong Thanh Phong said that as of March 31 local companies had shipped more than 1.45 million tonnes of rice to buyers, earning more than US$640 million. This included 706,500 tonnes exported in March, bringing in over $310 million.
Despite the global economic downturn, the volume of rice-export contracts for the first quarter was up 22 per cent year-on-year, while the volume of rice exports was 12 per cent higher, according to VFA.
Phong said the volume of exported rice would increase sharply to make up for the lower volumes of rice exported in the first quarter.
The VFA said that dried normal paddy in the Mekong Delta was selling for VND5,200 — VND5,300 per kilo, and long-grain paddy for VND5,400 — VND5,500 per kilo. — VNS