Vietnam’s agro-forestry-fishery exports are expected to fetch a record high of US$61 billion this year, given positive signs over the past few months, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien said at a recent press briefing.

The country exported agricultural, forestry, and fishery products worth nearly $46.3 billion between January and September, up 21 percent year on year, according to Tien. 

September alone enjoyed $5.85 billion revenue from agro-forestry-fishery exports.

The agro-forestry-fishery sector posted a trade surplus of $13.9 billion during the nine-month period, representing nearly 67 percent of the economy’s total trade surplus.

"With this positive growth rate, agricultural exports could reach $61 billion this year," he said.

From now until the end of the year, the ministry will continue beefing up production in the southern region to maintain the export momentum.

He also ordered tighter control over smuggling and restrictions on imports to enhance local production and exports.

Besides, Tien hinted at tapping the Halal food market with 2.2 billion people to foster exports.

Speaking at the press conference, he mentioned the damage typhoon Yagi, which made landfall in northern Vietnam in early September, unleashed on agriculture.

The typhoon caused a loss of over VND30.8 trillion ($1.2 billion) to the agricultural sector, with animal husbandry and fishery hit the hardest.

Despite the damage brought about by the typhoon, the third storm to hit Vietnam this year, the ministry promptly urged affected localities to restore production in the aftermath.

As of the end of September, meat production had reached 6.13 million metric tons, a 4.8 percent year-on-year increase. 

"The ministry is considering reducing animal feed prices to encourage farmers to restore and expand their pig herds," Tien affirmed.

As for rice plantation, the storm destroyed some 300,000-400,000 metric tons of rice in northern Vietnam.

However, rice yields had amounted to 34 million metric tons as of the end of September, up 1.5 percent year on year.

The fishery industry has turned out 7.02 million metric tons of seafood. As of September, $7.2 billion worth of fishery products had been exported.

With the export growth, the seafood export might rake in $10 billion this year as targeted.

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