According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, export value of major farm produce hit 1.68 billion USD, a year-on-year rise of 34.1 percent. 

Meanwhile, revenue from aquatic and forestry product shipments reached 560 million USD and 745 million USD, respective increases of 15.6 percent and 18.5 percent. 

In the month, Vietnam exported about 524,000 tonnes of rice worth 249 million USD, up 56.5 percent in volume and 74.2 percent in value over the corresponding time in 2017. In the year, the rice export price averaged 451.9 USD per tonne, up 0.7 percent compared with 2016. 

The country also earned 338 million USD from selling 173,000 tonnes of coffee in the month, increases of 24 percent in volume and 7 percent in value. 

Rubber exports saw the sharpest rise with volume up 94.5 percent to 181,000 tonnes and value up 14 percent to 204 million USD. 

Cashew nut exports stood at 25,000 tonnes, bringing home 256 million USD, up 39.9 percent in volume and 56.5 percent in value. 

During January, vegetable and fruit exports were estimated at 321 million USD, a rise of nearly 37 percent year-on-year. 

Despite a hike of 59 percent in volume to 13,000 tonnes, pepper export value dropped nearly 9 percent to only 56 million USD. 

The ministry said agro-forestry-fishery imports in January were estimated at 2.78 billion USD, a year-on-year increase of 48.1 percent.