In 11 months of 2023, fishery production increased by 2.2%, and wood exploitation increased by 2.9% over the same period last year. The rice harvest in the Mekong Delta this year increased by 80,000 tons and autumn-winter rice by 392,000 tons. This contributed to bringing rice exports by November 15 to 7.4 million tons and a turnover of 4.15 billion USD, far exceeding the results of 2022…
According to the report of the General Statistics Office, agriculture in November 2023 focused mainly on finishing the rice harvest across the country and starting winter crops in northern provinces. By the middle of November 2023, the whole country harvested 1,385.8 thousand ha of rice, accounting for 89.7% of the cultivated area and 103.5% of the same period last year.
Overcoming difficulties, agriculture continued to grow.
RICE PRODUCTIVITY AND PRODUCTION INCREASED, RICE EXPORTS REACHED NEW RECORD
In particular, northern provinces harvested 991.8 thousand ha, accounting for 98.7% and equal to 101.2%; southern provinces harvested 394,000 ha, accounting for 73% and equal to 109.7%. The harvest is earlier than the same period last year due to favorable weather conditions. Localities actively started the crop early to cope with saltwater intrusion and climate change.
According to the preliminary report, Vietnam’s rice yield this year is estimated at 5,330 kg/ha, up 30kg/ha compared to the previous year’s crop. The production is about 8.23 million tons, equivalent to the previous year’s crop. Productivity in northern provinces is estimated at 5,330 kg/ha, up 20 kg/ha compared to the previous year’s crop. Production is expected to reach 5.36 million tons, down 79.9 thousand tons due to a decrease in cultivated area.
In southern provinces, productivity is estimated at 5,320 kg/ha, up 50 kg/ha compared to the previous year’s crop; production is estimated at 2.87 million tons, up nearly 80,000 tons.
The area of fall-winter rice cultivation in 2023 in the Mekong Delta is about 708.8 thousand ha, up 60.8 thousand ha compared to the fall-winter crop last year because the price of fresh rice is always stable at a high level, so farmers expanded the area. By November 15, 2023, the whole region had harvested 317.3 thousand ha, accounting for 44.8% of the cultivated area and equal to 107.7% of the same period last year.
“According to the preliminary report, the total productivity of the fall-winter 2023 crop is estimated at 5,660 kg/ha, up 70 kg/ha compared to the fall-winter crop of the previous year; production is estimated at 4 million tons, up 392,000 tons compared to the same period last year”.
General Statistics Office
It is forecast that rice exports will continue to be favorable in the coming time in the context that rice supply has no signs of improving.
By November 15, 2023, southern provinces planted 244.8 thousand ha of early winter-spring rice, equal to 83.5% of the same period last year, concentrated mainly in the Mekong Delta. The progress is slower than in the same period because some localities want to avoid salty drought, besides, this year’s summer-fall crop was harvested later than in the same period last year.
Regarding rice exports, in the first half of November 2023, Vietnam exported 332,214 tons of rice, worth 219 million USD. Accumulated from the beginning of the year to November 15, Vietnam exported 7.37 million tons of rice, worth 4.15 billion USD. Thus, rice exports have far exceeded 2022 (7.1 million tons, worth 3.45 billion USD).
Regarding the rice export market, the largest markets are ASEAN and China. In particular, in ASEAN, rice is exported the most to the Philippines, Indonesia, and Singapore. According to data updated in 10 months, exports to ASEAN reached 4.2 million tons, up 25.7%; exports to China reached nearly 900,000 tons, up 16.7% over the same period last year.
Most recently, India expects to maintain restrictions on rice exports next year. The move could cause rice prices to remain at their highest level since the food crisis in 2028 because India is the world’s leading rice exporter. Vietnam’s rice exports will be vibrant due to increased import demand from many major markets. After India banned exports from late July 2023, rice prices rose to the highest level in 15 years.
In 2024, it is forecast that there will be a lot of opportunities for Vietnam’s rice exports when there is a shortage of supply and countries increase imports to ensure food security in the face of unpredictable fluctuations in the global rice market.
PRODUCTION OF FISHERY AND FOREST PRODUCTS INCREASED
Now is the time for farmers to regroup, and increase their herds of cattle and poultry to supply to the market for year-end holidays. However, pig breeding is difficult due to low market prices while input costs are high, and African swine fever has returned in some localities.
For the forestry industry, the area of new afforestation in the country in November 2023 is about 33.3 thousand ha, down 2.7% over the same period last year due to unfavorable weather. The number of scattered forestry trees reached 8.3 million, up 4.1%. Wood production in November reached 2,074.2 thousand m3, up 2.6% over the same period last year.
Fishery harvest in November 2023 was about 836.3 thousand tons, up 3.2% over the same period last year.
In 11 months of 2023, the newly afforestation area is estimated at 261.9 thousand ha, down 1.4% over the same period last year; the number of scattered forestry trees reached 92 million, up 4.6%. Cumulative wood exploitation in 11 months reached 18.2 million m3, up 2.9%.
“In 11 months of 2023, the total harvested fishery production is estimated at 8,473.5 thousand tons, up 2.2% over the same period last year. In particular, fish reached 6,024.8 thousand tons, up 1.7%; shrimp reached 1,231.6 thousand tons, up 5.2%; Others reached 1,217.1 thousand tons, up 1.8% over the same period last year “.
General Statistics Office
Regarding the fisheries industry, the harvest in November 2023 was about 836.3 thousand tons, up 3.2% over the same period last year. In particular, fish reached 582.5 thousand tons, up 2.5%; shrimp reached 134.7 thousand tons, up 7.0%; others reached 119.1 thousand tons, up 2.4%.
The production of aquaculture in November was estimated at 550.6 thousand tons, up 5.2% over the same period last year: fish reached 368.1 thousand tons, up 4.2%; and shrimp reached 121.4 thousand tons, up 7.8%.
Catfish output in the month continued to increase quite well compared to the same period last year due to the start of the year-end harvest and increasing exports to some markets. Catfish production in the month was estimated at 177.3 thousand tons, up 4.5% over the same period last year.
The application of high-tech intensive and super-intensive shrimp farming helps increase production. The output of white-leg shrimp in the month was about 88.6 thousand tons, up 9.0% over the same period last year; the output of tiger shrimp reached 24.7 thousand tons, up 3.8%.
Exploited fishery production in November 2023 is estimated at 285.7 thousand tons, down 0.4% over the same period last year: Fish reached 214.4 thousand tons, down 0.2%; shrimp reached 13.3 thousand tons, equivalent to the same period last year; others reached 58 thousand tons, down 0.3%.
The production of marine fishery is about 265.2 thousand tons, down 0.5% over the same period last year due to unfavorable weather. Besides, fishing vessels have strictly implemented anti-IUU fishing regulations, so the fishing output decreased./.