According to the Can Tho Department of Industry and Trade, the city’s goods and services export revenue reached USD 1.27 billion in January-September, up 16.3 percent year on year. Of that sum, goods exports were estimated at USD 1 billion, up almost 17 percent from a year earlier.
Can Tho farmers harvesting rice
About 638,100 tons of rice worth USD 261.9 million were shipped abroad, respectively increasing 22 percent and 19.6 percent year on year. Meanwhile, 117,000 tons of aquatic products were exported, bringing home USD 378.7 million, up 15 percent and 4.8 percent respectively.
Other products with good growth included processed agricultural products (USD 55.4 million, up 24.4 percent), steel products (USD 17.3 million, 46.7 percent), and pharmaceuticals (USD 12.8 million, up 33.7 percent).
Deputy Director of the municipal department Duong Nghia Hiep said on September 20 that poor rice export figures in the first half of the year were attributable to fierce competition with Thai rice. However, the situation has improved since June, especially in September.
Many Can Tho businesses have won contracts to ship rice to the Philippines, Singapore and Indonesia, he noted, forecasting a positive export outlook in the rest of the year as several companies are negotiating new contracts.
Exports of catfish and shrimp products have also been growing rapidly since early September. Many shrimp processors face a material supply shortage and have to import raw materials from Bangladesh and India to fulfill their contracts.
Meanwhile, catfish exports have thrived thanks to China, a new and undemanding market with considerable demand, Hiep said.
He predicted that catfish and shrimp exports to European countries are likely to increase strongly after September to satisfy demand at year-end holidays.
Source: VNA