The information was released by the Vietnam Food Association (VFA) at a meeting with its members in Ho Chi Minh City on February 10.

VFA said more than 485,000 tonnes of rice was exported in January, the highest figure ever recorded in the first month of the year thanks to prompt delivery.

VFA Chairman Truong Thanh Phong said he is optimistic about the country’s rice exports in 2011 under contracts signed with Indonesia and Bangladesh, Cuba, Iraq Malaysia, and other countries.

Rice exports are estimated to reach 1.6 million tonnes in the first quarter and 2.24 million tonnes in the second quarter of 2011, said Phong, adding that the association will ask for the Government’s permission to purchase and stockpile 1 million tonnes of rice from the winter-spring crop.