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Exports slow down in first seven months
Exports totalled US$62.9 billion in the first seven months of the year, 19 per cent higher than in the same period last year but reflecting a gradual slowdown, according to a report presented yesterday at an online meeting held by the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
The 19-per-cent increase was mainly attributed to the contribution of foreign-invested enterprises which saw exports of mobile phones and accessories increase by 151.6 per cent and exports of computers and electronics increase by 81.3 per cent, according to the report.
While the prices of most agricultural products have decreased or stagnated since last year, leading to slowed growth in export turnover, the export value of these products was up nearly $1 billion over 2011.
Foreign-invested businesses saw exports increase by 25.3 per cent in the first seven months, much higher than the country's import growth overall, showing that the country's exports were still largely dependent upon foreign-invested businesses, said the deputy director of the HCM City Department of Industry and Trade, Tran Van Nhung.
Nhung urged policymakers to think more about sustainable export growth than increases in export volume.
Rubber exports in the first seven months of the year rose 22 per cent in volume while decreasing 96 per cent in value, due to depressed global prices.
To deal with the situation, the Viet Nam Rubber Association has asked the Ministry of Finance to consider exempting or rescheduling export taxes levied on some rubber products in order to encourage further investment and spur exports.
Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Thanh Bien said that the National Assembly has set a target of reaching $108 billion in total export turnover this year, but meeting this target would require great effort on all sides.
To remove difficulties for businesses, Bien said his ministry would send a plan to the Government next week which would include financial support and trade promotion campaigns for agricultural products as well as cement and steel, industries which are burdened with high inventories.
vietnamnews
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