The country’s exports of rice were estimated at 402,705 tons worth of US$ 170.8 million in February and 738,153 tons worth of $ 314.2 million in the first two months of this year, down by 23.4 per cent in quantity and 24.7 per cent in value over the same period last year, showed the statistics figures of the General Department of Customs.

China was still leading the list of the country’s major rice export markets in the first two months of this year with 242,361 tons worth of $ 112.8 million, up by 51 per cent in quantity and 57.6 per cent in value over the same period last year; and accounted for 35 per cent of the total.

It was followed by the Philippines with 206,589 tons worth of $ 78 million, up by 54 per cent in quantity and 36 per cent in value year – on – year and accounted for 28 per cent of the total.

The other big markets were Ivory Coast with 39,989 tons worth of $ 17.4 million; Malaysia – 30,248 tons worth of $ 11.8 million; Ghana – 19,520 tons worth of $ 9.7 million; and Singapore – 10,575 tons worth of $ 5.2 million.