HCM CITY (Biz Hub) — The southern province of Dong Nai reported a record export value of more than US$13 billion in 2014, surpassing its target by $500 million and posting a 19 per cent year-on-year increase.

Overall, foreign investments made up the lion's share of the figure with almost $11.3 billion, while the private sector accounted for $1.5 billion.

The locality's biggest importers were the US, Japan, South Korea and China. Major exports include footwear, garments and textiles, wood products and machinery parts, according to Dong Nai's Department of Industry and Trade.

Major products exported to these markets include garments and textiles, which made up 14.7 per cent; computers and electronics were 6.9 per cent; timber and wooden products were 8 per cent; plastics were 5.6 per cent, chemicals were 4.3 per cent; and footwear and fisheries were both 3.7 per cent.

Local exporters have successfully entered new markets in Greece, Uruguay, Sweden, Colombia, Switzerland, Slovakia and Israel.

Dong Nai also enjoyed a trade surplus of nearly half a billion US dollars this year.

The province forecasts its export turnover in 2015 will rise 15 per cent to reach $14.4 billion, almost doubling the figure for 2010.

Dong Nai, together with Binh Duong, Tay Ninh, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Binh Phuoc, Long An and Tien Giang provinces and HCM City, form Viet Nam's southern key economic region.

The province, HCM City, and Binh Duong are amongst the most attractive FDI destinations in Viet Nam. — VNS