Garment workers in Hansae Viet Nam Limited Company sew products for export.— VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Vu

HCM CITY  (Biz Hub) —Exports of some light industrial products are expected to increase this year while shipments of agricultural products will likely fail to meet the annual target.

This was forecast by industry representatives at a meeting with the Ministry of Industry and Trade in HCM City on Thursday.

Chairman of the Viet Nam Footwear Association Nguyen Duc Thuan said that the footwear industry would likely fetch US$9.5-10 billion this year thanks to abundant export orders from foreign markets.

Deputy General Secretary of the Viet Nam Apparel Association Nguyen Van Tuan also expected the garment and textile industry to earn $18.5 billion this year.

However, representatives from agricultural associations were concerned about the export prospects of their products.

A delegate from the Viet Nam Cacao and Coffee Association said that export value of the industry would reach only $2.8 billion this year against last year's $3.4 billion due to a decline in both volume and value.

He said that coffee prices, currently VND44,500 per kilo, had decreased in recent months and would likely reduce further next month when the harvest started.

The rice industry is in the same boat.

Chairman of the Viet Nam Food Association Truong Thanh Phong said that the industry aimed to export 7.5 million tonnes of rice this year, but after difficulties faced in the first half, it had to adjust down to 7 million tonnes and was even concerned it would fail to meet that low target.

Export turnover of rubber, coffee, rice and cassava declined in the first nine months according to MoIT. Coffee and cassava exports dropped more than 20 per cent in both value and volume. Rubber and rice also declined by more than 15 per cent.

Agricultural associations attributed the decline to financial difficulties and fiercer competition.

To boost exports in the last months of the year, the Viet Nam Cacao and Coffee Association recommended the Government stockpile coffee and help coffee producers and traders access preferential loans.

The rice association asked the Ministry of Industry and Trade to monitor rice exported via northern border provinces, as illegal exports would hurt the image of Vietnamese rice. — VNS