In the first nine months of 2024, Vietnam's agricultural exports amounted to US$46.28 billion, up 21 percent year-on-year, according to a report by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. In particular, agriculture realized a trade surplus of $13.9 billion, up 71.2% from the same period in 2023.
  
  Specifically, in the first nine months of this year, exports of agricultural products amounted to US$24.85 billion, up 27.7% year-on-year; exports of forest products amounted to US$12.46 billion, up 20.3% year-on-year; exports of aquatic products amounted to US$7.23 billion, up 9.5% year-on-year; and exports of livestock products amounted to US$376 million, up 3.8% year-on-year.
  
  Meanwhile, coffee exports amounted to $4.37 billion, up 39.6 percent; rice amounted to $4.37 billion, up 23.5 percent; cashews amounted to $3.17 billion, up 22.5 percent; fruits and vegetables amounted to $5.87 billion, up 39.4 percent; shrimp amounted to $2.79 billion, up 10.5 percent; chum amounted to $1.36 billion, up 7.8 percent; and pepper amounted to $1 billion, a up 46.9%, etc.
  
  Experts believe that rising export prices not only boost the value of exports and increase the trade surplus, but also pull many domestic prices of agricultural products continue to peak, bringing greater profits for farmers. Meanwhile, export growth has given impetus to the shift from agricultural production to an agro-economic model.
  
  According to Phung Duc Chinh, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Vietnam's agricultural exports are expected to reach a record $60-61 billion in 2024 if the current growth rate is maintained.
  
  Recent statistics from the General Department of Customs show that cumulatively on October 15, Vietnam's merchandise export turnover amounted to about US$315.91 billion, up 15.3% over the same period in 2023.
  
  Deputy Minister Phung Duc Thanh said that in order to achieve this year's target of agricultural export turnover exceeding US$60 billion, Vietnam needs to push forward with production recovery after Typhoon No. 3, develop effective production models in provinces and cities, crack down on smuggling, and protect and promote growth, as well as understand the halal market in order to enter the potential-filled halal market.