The central province of Thua Thien-Hue shipped US$530 million worth of products to foreign countries in the first eight months of 2017, a year-on-year surge of 21.16 per cent.

The foreign-invested sector contributed $298 million, up 24.82 per cent, while $150 million came from the private sector, up 21.61 per cent.

The United States continued to be the largest purchaser, accounting for 40 per cent of the province’s export revenue. Along with traditional markets such as China, the European Union, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, local products have also been shipped to Cambodia, India, Slovakia and Sri Lanka.

The export value registered a year-on-year surge of 17.47 per cent for industrial processed products, and 35.79 per cent for agro-forestry-fishery products. Notably, the export of aquatic products has doubled to $35.25 million, up 24.78 per cent against 2016.

Leading Thua Thien Hue’s textile market, Hue Textile and Garment Joint Stock Company earned VND1.57 trillion ($69 billion) in revenue and its export turnover was $85 million. The average monthly income of its employees is VND7.3 million per person.

In order to achieve the targeted growth of 10 per cent in 2017, Hue Textile and Garment JSC has started construction of two factories to increase production, including a VND70 billion garment factory in Phu Da Industrial Zone and another factory valued at VND35 billion in Nam Dong District.

Thua Thien Hue Province has spent $345 million purchasing materials from foreign countries, a 6.76 per cent rise compared to the same period last year. Most of the imports have been garment-support materials and spares, with China remaining its primary source for these imports. — VNS