Vietnam is estimated to have exported US$5.6 billion worth of agricultural, forestry and seafood in the first four months of this year, up 12.8% from the same period of 2009, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said.

The total export revenues included US$1.2 billion from seafood, up 17.4% and US$3.4 billion from key agricultural products, according to reports.

In the month Vietnam has exported US$350 million worth of seafood, of which exports of tra and basa, and frozen shrimp increased 15.6% and 11.7% on-year, respectively.

But the country also spent up to US$5 billion on importing agricultural materials in the first four months of this year, up 77% on year, according to the ministry.