Vietnam is expected to gain an 88 million US dollars turnover of tea export this year, below the sector's target of 107 million dollars, local newspaper reported Saturday.

The figure also represents an outright decline from last year's export turnover of 91 million dollars, Vietnam News quoted the Vietnam Tea Association (Vitas) as saying.

In the first 11 months of this year, Vietnam exported 80,000 tons of the products, with the turnover of nearly 86 million dollars, according to the Vitas.

The decline is mainly due to lower-than-expected output caused by prolonged drought and unfavorable weather conditions, said the report, adding that many local farmers used improper tea growing and processing techniques.

High prices also have driven down the demand in its important markets, including India, Japan, the United States and Iraq. Meanwhile, Thailand, South Korea, France, Sweden and Denmark have refused new tea export contracts.

Vietnam currently has some 600 tea production enterprises, including 234 export ones.

Source: Xinhua