Viet Nam's eight-month export value - US$ 13.3 billion
(08/26/2003)
Ha Noi, Aug. 26 (VNA) - Viet Nam's export value grew at 27.5 percent to 13.3 billion USD in the first eight months of this year, with the foreign-invested sector posting a 38.2 percent growth to nearly 6.7 billion USD and the domestic economic sector, 18.3 percent, said the General Statistics Office.
Coffee enjoyed the highest growing rate of 64.5 percent in export value, due to the hike in prices, while the volume of exports decreased by 6 percent year-on-year.
Textiles and garment products grossed 2.6 billion USD, a year-on-year rise of 57.9 percent. Other major hard currency earners were cashewnuts, rubber, electric and electric cable wires, wooden furniture, footwear and black coal.
According to the Ministry of Trade, the country's export values from all continents registered rises with the highest recorded in America.The African indicated a high growth potential.
To earn 18.5 billion USD in export value this year, Viet Nam aims to rake in 9.2 billion USD from Asia, which has been defined as its main market; 3.74 billion USD from Europe; 3.53 billion USD from North America; and nearly 1.5 billion USD from Australia.
The General Statistics Office reported that the country's import value rose 33.3 percent year-on-year to 16.2 billion USD, including 1.95 billion USD in August alone, with machines, electronic spare parts, gas and oil, and raw materials being the main imports.
As a result, Viet Nam's trade deficit reached 2.9 billion USD in the first eight months.
To deal with the situation, the Trade Ministry urged sectors and businesses to take drastic measures to make the best use of imported machines and raw materials in an effort to achieve a trade balance.
