Vietnam is expected to post woodwork export revenues of 2.2 billion U.S. dollars this year, up from 1.6 billion dollars last year, according to a local industry association on Tuesday.

Vietnam's total woodwork export turnover is predicted to rise to 5.5 billion dollars in 2010, and it could surpass China in the export of wood furniture to the U.S. market in the year, the Vietnam Wood and Forest Product Processing Association said, noting that Vietnam is now the third biggest woodwork exporter to Japan, following China and Thailand.

Woodwork producers in Vietnam are seeking more material suppliers, tapping traditional export markets, and penetrating into new ones.

Some 1,200 woodwork enterprises in the country, including more than 300 exporters, are able to process 2.5-3 million cubic meters of wood annually, but domestic supplies can only meet nearly 20 percent of the demand, the association said.

In addition to such key markets as the European Union, the United States, Japan and China's Taiwan, woodwork companies in Vietnam are intensifying export of their products, including interior wooden products, outdoor tables and chairs, handicraft woodwork, items made from wood and such other materials as rattan and iron, and plywood, to potential markets including Canada, Russia and East Europe.

Vietnam has so far this year earned woodwork export turnover of 1.9 billion dollars. Its wood-based products are now available in more than 120 countries and regions, the association said.

Source: Xinhua