Vietnam's rice export revenue falls by 10 pc
HANOI - Vietnam's earnings from rice exports dropped 10 per cent in 2001compared to the previous
year amid the continuing agricultural slump, official media said yesterday.
Vietnam earned 460 millions dollars in rice export revenues despite an increase in export
volume to 3.55 million tonnes from 3.50 million tonnes last year.
Rice prices have fallen by over 40 per cent since 1998, reducing revenue from rice exports by
220 million dollars since 1999.
Vietnam is the world's second largest rice exporter behind Thailand. Rice is the country's main
agricultural export and has become its main foreign currency earner.
Along with the collapse in world prices for other agricultural commodities and crude oil, the fall
in the price of rice has prevented Vietnam from meeting its export growth target of 16 per cent
this year.
Agence France Presse - December 27, 2001.
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