BRUSSELS — The European Union (EU)'s imports of agricultural and food products from Việt Nam rose 9 per cent in value in the first five months of this year, driven primarily by higher coffee imports, according to the European Commission’s (EC) latest agri-food trade report released on Thursday.

Việt Nam was among the few bright spots in the EU’s import landscape, underscoring the country’s growing role as a key supplier of agricultural products to the bloc.

The report shows that the EU posted an agri-food trade surplus of 19.4 billion euros (US$22.3 billion) in the January–May period, up one billion euros from the same period last year, despite declines in the overall value of both exports and imports.

The bloc’s agri-food exports totalled 96.9 billion euros, down 3 per cent year-on-year, while its imports were valued at 77.5 billion euros, a year-on-year decline of 5 per cent.

Việt Nam and Argentina emerged as notable exceptions.

Imports from Argentina increased 10 per cent thanks to higher sunflower seed shipments, while imports from Việt Nam climbed 9 per cent, driven by robust coffee exports. The value of fruit and nut imports also rose by 4 per cent. — VNA/VNS