Woodwork Export Hits US$1.71 Bln in 9 Months

Woodwork exports brought in US$1.71 billion in the past nine months of 2007 to Vietnam, where the International Fine Arts and Woodwork Products Exhibition or EXPO 2007 will take place from October 7-14.

 

According to the General Statistics Office, the figure showed an on year rise of 24.9 per cent in terms of value.

 

However, the country’s woodwork enterprises have had to spend US$761 million on wood imports in January-September period, up 40.3 per cent on year.

 

Local enterprises are badly in need of machinery and equipment imports which facilitate its processing, according to Indo Bette of the German Woodworking Machinery Manufacturers Association (VDMA) at VietnamWood 2007, an international woodworking industry fair in HCMC from September 27 to 30.

 

“Vietnam has become a major exporter of woodwork in the world, so that wood processors who want stronger business growth and more trade links with foreign customers should buy genuine machinery and equipment to ensure the good quality and designs of their products,” Bette said.

 

Vietnam expects to earn up to US$2.5 billion from woodwork and more than US$800 million from handicraft exports by the end of this year, up from US$1.98 billion and US$630 million last year, respectively.

 

Vietnam is expected to make the revenues of US$5.5 billion from woodwork and US$1.5 billion from handicrafts this year. (GSO Sept Edition)