Vietnam shipped 1.3 million tons of rice abroad for 599.3 million U.S. dollars in the first two months of the year, the Vietnam News Agency reported on March 9, citing the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Vietnam.

The figures marked an increase of 5 percent in volume but a fall of 11.2 percent in value compared with the same period last year, the report said.

The average export price during the period was estimated at 464.1 U.S. dollars per ton, down 15.4 percent from a year earlier.

The Philippines was Vietnam's largest rice market with a share of 47.6 percent, followed by China and Ghana.