Coffee saw the sharpest increase, with exports hitting 130,000 tonnes, or $145 million, up 44 per cent and 82 per cent, respectively. This brought total coffee exports up to $961 million in the first four months of this year.

Rice exports also increased sharply, said the ministry, reaching 600,000 tonnes or $186 million in April. About 1.4 million tonnes of rice worth $443 million has been exported since the beginning of the year.

A ministry official said higher export prices and increased production contributed to the gains.

According to the ministry, wood and furniture exports reached $770 million in the first four months, followed by rubber at $306 million. Cashew nuts, pepper and tea reached $140 million, $74.5 million and $25 million, respectively.

So far this year, Viet Nam has earned about $3 billion in revenue from forest and farm exports, a 32 per cent increase over last year, said the ministry.