Total export revenue of agro-forestry and fishery products reached $40.08 billion in the first eight months of the year, marking a year-on-year increase of 18.6%, figures from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development show.

In August alone, the sector gained export turnover of $5.55 billion, up 12.3% year-on-year.

Exports to most of markets gained significant growth in the eight-month period, such as Asia with export value of $19 billion, up 15.7%; Americas $9.3 billion, 22.3%; Europe $4.8 billion, 30.5%; and Africa $747 million, 5.5%.

The US exceeded China to become the biggest importer of Vietnamese agro-forestry and fishery products in Jan-August period with value of $8.58 billion, surging 23.5% year-on-year, and accounting 21.4% of the total.

China ranked the second with $8.17 billion, up 10.2% year-on-year and accounting for 20.4%. It was followed by Japan with $2.68 billion, soaring 4.6% year-on-year.

Meanwhile, the import value from the sector in the eight-month period stood at $28.28 billion, accounting for a $11.8 billion surplus from the export of $40.08 billion, an increase of 68.4% year-on-year.