News in Brief -(03-07-2018

Myanmar targets

2.5m tonnes of rice

export this year

YANGON, July 02 (Xinhua): Myanmar's Rice Federation targets to export 2.5 million tons of rice this year, which is the country's major agricultural product, local Daily Eleven reported Monday. Meanwhile, the country earned 181.12 million US dollars from 528,400 tonnes of rice exports via both border gates and sea route as of June 08 during the six-month transitional period which started in April. Myanmar has changed its fiscal year period from original April-March to Oct-Sept beginning 2018-2019. — Xinhua

Coal to lead

Australia's

exports

CANBERRA, July 02: Australia's coal exports will overtake iron ore in financial year 2018-19 starting on July 01, according to figures published by the government's department of industry on Monday. The Department of Industry, Innovation and Science figures show total coal exports are forecast to reach 58.1 billion Australian dollars (43 billion US dollars) in 2018-19, overtaking iron ore for the first time in almost a decade. — Xinhua

Vietnam's petrol, LPG import

rise in H1

HANOI, July 02: Vietnam imported seven million tonnes of various kinds of oil and petroleum products valued at 4.6 billion US dollars in the first half of this year, the Ministry of Industry and Trade said on Monday. In the six-month period, Vietnam imported 730,000 tons of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) worth 412 million US dollars, up 12.3 per cent, and 28.2 per cent, respectively. — Xinhua

London copper

hovers near

March low

MELBOURNE, July 02: London copper was steady near its lowest since late March on Monday after China's manufacturing growth tempered in June, reflecting a slowdown in the real economy and simmering trade tensions with the United States. Growth in China's manufacturing sector slowed in June after a better-than-expected performance in May, official data showed, as escalating trade tensions with the United States fuelled concerns about a slowdown in the world's second-biggest economy. —Reuters