Vietnam’s Rice Export Markets Shrink in Jan-Aug

The General Customs Department said Vietnam exported its rice to 17 countries and territories worldwide in the first eight months of 2009, losing 13 markets from a year earlier.
Among 17 importers, the Philippines continued being the biggest with total import volume of more than 1.573 million tons, valued at $852.337 million, the Ministry of Industry and Trade said on its website.
Malaysia ranked second and Cuba ranked third after spending $192.339 million and $161.183 million on importing 438,135 tons and 378,750 tons of rice from Vietnam, respectively.
Singapore and Iraq imported $94.368 million and $67.540 million worth of rice, respectively from Vietnam.
During the Jan-Aug period, rice export rose in ten markets, with highest growth of 792% to Hong Kong to $12.18 million. Rice export to South Africa jumped 748% to $14.56 million; to Singapore up 513%; to Taiwan up 465% to $48.47 million; to Belgium up 193% to $3.63 million; to Spain up 130% to $1.52 million; and to Ukraine up 105% to $12.44 million against the same period of last year.
 Meanwhile, Vietnam lost 13 export markets in the period, including Ireland, India, the U.K., Arab Saudi, Canada, Germany, the U.S., Lithuania, Finland, Slovenia, Turkey, Switzerland and China.
Vietnam raked in more than $2.1 billion from shipping 4.631 million tons of rice abroad in Jan-Aug 2009.