Rice exports projected to reach 1.8m tonnes in Q2   Farmers package rice at the Thanh Binh agricultural produce market in Dong Thap Province. Viet Nam exported 631,000 tonnes of rice, earning US$278 million, in April. - VNA/VNS Photo Dinh Hue HA NOI (VNS) - The Viet Nam Food Association (VFA) expects to export 1.8 million tonnes of rice for the second quarter this year, said association chairman Nguyen Hung Linh. He said that many enterprises have registered a large volume in rice export contracts so the nation could reach the target. Truong Thanh Phong, an advisor to the VFA executive board, said there are many export contracts for the second quarter because Chinese traders have promoted imports of Vietnamese rice via commercial contracts and small trading activities at border gates, reported the Thoi bao Kinh te Viet Nam (Viet Nam Economics Times) newspaper. This month, rice export volumes are estimated to reach 650,000-700,000 tonnes, the association said. In April, Viet Nam exported 631,000 tonnes of rice, earning US$278 million. In the first four months of this year, the exports had a year on year reduction of 6.9 per cent in volume to 2.04 million and 4.7 per cent in value to $931 million. The association also said that by April 29, enterprises had bought 950,000 tonnes of rice under the national programme on purchasing one million for temporary stock. - VNS