(VNF) - Rubber exports have recorded a pleasing increase since the beginning of the year with the export volume rising sharply in spite of a slight decrease in value compared to the same period last year, said the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Specifically, in April volume reached 58,000 tonnes, valued at USD84 million. This figure brought the total volume in the first four months this year to 259,000 tonnes, worth USD371 million, up 37.7% in volume but down 0.6% in value compared to the same period last year.

Photo for illustration. (Source: VNA)

The average export price of rubber in the first quarter was USD1,424 per tonne, a year-on-year reduction of 29.1%. China, Malaysia and India remained the three biggest importers of Vietnamese rubber, accounting for 68.08% of tmarket sales.

Meanwhile, the country imported 36,000 tonnes of rubber in April, worth USD65 million, bringing the total from January to April to 125,000 tonnes, valued at USD217 million. The four-month figures represented a 27.5% rise in value and an 8.3% increase in value over a year earlier.

During the period, Vietnam mainly imported rubber from the Republic of Korea (19.1%), Japan (17.2%) and Cambodia (13.1%)./.

( Hoang Quan )