HANOI, May 24 (Xinhua) -- The export value of Vietnamese timber and wood products is estimated to reach over 6 billion U.S. dollars in the first five months of this year, an increase of 18 percent year on year, local media reported Friday, citing the General Department of Vietnam Customs.
Wooden product export alone is expected to bring home over 4 billion dollars, up 7.5 percent compared to the same period last year, according to Vietnam News.
Do Xuan Lap, chairman of the Vietnam Timber and Forest Products Association, said the country was among the top timber exporters in the world. Vietnamese timber reaches 170 countries and territories worldwide, making deeper inroads in key markets like the United States, Europe, the Republic of Korea and Japan, and marking greater presence in emerging markets like the Middle East and India.
Vietnamese companies are investing in new technology and digital transformation to develop new products and services and increase competitiveness, efficiency and productivity, he said.
Vietnam aims at 14.2 billion dollars of timber and wood product exports in 2014, up 6 percent compared to last year, said the association. ■
