Export turnover by the agricultural sector in the first seven months of this year totalled US$10.13 billion, up 14.21 percent against the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).

In the same period, this sector’s import turnover was US$7.52 billion, up 33.45 percent compared to last year.

As a result, agriculture’s trade surplus surpassed US$2.61 billion.

Seafood continued to surpass other export items with a turnover of US$2.45 billion, up 11.63 percent against the previous year. It was followed by rice (US$1.97 billion), forestry products (US$1.91 billion), wood products (US$1.78 billion), coffee (US$1.06 billion) and rubber (US$821 million).

MARD reports that many major export contracts have been signed with the US, China, and the Republic of Korea.