Vietnam’s agricultural sector has set a target of earning $15.5 billion from exports over the final quarter of the year in order to fulfill its annual goal of $54 billion worth of agriculture, forestry and fishery exports.

Exports in the first nine months reached only $38.5 billion, down 5.1 per cent year-on-year, figures from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) show.

Asia remains the biggest export market, accounting for 48.6 per cent, followed by the US with 22.7 per cent and Europe with 10.8 per cent.

During the first nine months of the year, fruit and vegetables, rice, coffee, and cashews were among the key products posting impressive export revenue, of $4.2 billion, a year-on-year increase of 71.8 per cent; $3.66 billion and 40.4 per cent; $3.16 billion and 1.9 per cent; and $2.61 billion and 14.3 per cent, respectively.

MARD remains steadfast in reaching the targeted $54 billion, which is higher than the $53.2 billion recorded in 2022. However, in the current difficult context, this will be no easy task and requires determination, dynamism, and creativity from agricultural, forestry and fishery exporters to overcome the difficulties and challenges.