Vietnam to post higher export revenues in first half

Vietnam is estimated to reap export earnings of over 18.7 billion U.S. dollars in the first half of this year, a year-on-year surge of 25.7 percent, according to the country's Ministry of Planning and Investment on Friday.

Goods recording high export value growths include electric wire and cables, up 36.7 percent; textiles and garments, 32.7 percent; woodwork, 26 percent; seafood, 25.7 percent; and footwear, 20.3 percent.

In the period, items with bigger export volumes include coal, up 63.6 percent; rubber, 44 percent; tea 29 percent; and rice 7.8 percent.

Between January and June, Vietnam is estimated to spend more than 20.7 billion dollars on importing goods, including petroleum products, steel, fertilizers and machines, up 14.1 percent over the same period last year.

Vietnam, which posted export turnovers of 32.2 billion dollars in 2005, a year-on-year increase of 21.6 percent, is boosting exports, diversifying markets and fostering trade promotion in an effort to gain export growth of 16.4 percent in 2006.

Source: Xinhua