Workers at Thang Loi Textile Garment JSC in HCM City. — Photo: Tuoitre.vn

HCM CITY (Biz Hub) — Many companies in HCM City have began export shipments immediately after a long Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday, with many of them having enough orders to remain busy for the whole year.

Vo Quoc Hao, general director of Binh Minh Garment Joint Stock Company, said his company exported a consignment of 10,000 shirts to Japan on February 15, the first working day after Tet.

This was part of a contract to export three million pieces worth approximately US$20 million, he said.

His company has a target of 16 per cent export growth this year, with the US and Japan being the biggest customers, and trousers, shirts, t-shirts, and sportswear being the main items, he said.

Do Ha Nam, chairman and general director of Intimex Group, which exports pepper, cashew, coffee and other farm produce, said his company has to work under high pressure after Tet to fulfil its export orders for this month, which are 20 per cent higher than last month.

Nam said export of farm produce would be better this year since global demand for them would continue to increase.

But Vietnamese firms need to focus on improving their products'competitiveness, he said.

In the first week after resumption of work Thang Loi Textile Garment JSC plans to export a container of garments each to Germany and the US for around $30,000.

Nguyen Chi Trung, director of Gia Dinh Shoes Co, Ltd, said his company is preparing to export 13,000-14,000 pairs of fashion shoes to Spain, with a total outsourcing value of $20,000.

There are many outsourcing orders this year, mainly moved from China, but due to fierce competition rates have not increased, he said.

Truong Thanh Furniture Corporation is set to ship a consignment of wooden products worth $150,000 to the US this week.

Vo Truong Thanh, general director of the company, said it has orders for until September and expects to get more from the US and Japan.

Many importers have shifted their orders from China to Viet Nam to take advantage of free trade agreements the country has signed or would sign, he said.

Thanh said his company expects to achieve export growth of 25 per cent this year since its exports to the US and Japan are likely to expand sharply while its exports to the EU are expected to recover.

The wood industry would benefit from FTAs, particularly the TPP, and so his company has taken measures to capitalise on these opportunities, he said. It recently acquired a South Korean company in Binh Duong to expand operations, he said, adding that it plans to strengthen promotion and improve the skills of employees in its sales and international marketing divisions.

Truong Thuy Lien, director of Lien Phat Co, Ltd, said export have expanded in the last two years.

The company has export orders for three quarters, with many new customers from the US joining its clientele base, she said.

Last year many US footwear importers visited her factory to study its production chain, corporate social responsibility and other aspects before signing outsourcing contracts, she said.

"We will begin to export our products to these US new customers in March."

Her company has hired new workers and expanded production, she revealed. Many Japanese and Korean companies in HCM City-based industrial parks, including the Korean firm Yujin Vina, which makes spoons and forks, and Japanese firm Sai Gon Precision Co, Ltd in Linh Trung 1, said they had export orders that would take until the end of this year to execute. — VNS