Theexport turnover of plastic materials was 407 million USD, representing arise of 25 percent and 57 percent from the previous year in terms ofquantity and turnover, respectively, Customs newspaper quoted Ho DucLam, Chairman of the Vietnam Plastic Association, as saying.
Plasticmaterial production requires the use of high technology, whichgenerates higher-value exports compared with common plastic productexports.
Lam said the industry last year exported 20 plasticproducts to foreign markets; six of these products generated a turnoverof more than 100 million USD each.
In particular, the exports of plastic bags, films and garbage bags generated a turnover of over 150 million USD last year.
Plasticbag exports posted an increase of 27 percent in 2013 over the previousyear, while the growth in exports of plastic decorative products was26.4 percent.
Vietnam's plastic products were shipped to 151countries and territories, including high-demand markets, such as Japan,the United States, Germany and the European Union.
Japan is thecountry's largest importer of plastic products, importing goods worth401 million USD and accounting for 20 percent of Vietnam's total plasticexports.
The association noted that Japan continues to hold immense potential demand for the industry's products.
Vietnamexported 20 varieties of plastic products to Japan; 15 of theseproducts generated a turnover of more than 1 million USD each.
Lamurged Vietnamese plastic producers to prepare long-term strategies andinvest in market research to increase their penetration of the Japanesemarket.
The US is the second largest consumer of Vietnam'splastic exports, accounting for 175 million USD, or 8.6 percent, of thetotal export turnover last year.
In 2013, plastic producerscontinued operations, despite facing tough economic challenges. Theassociation forecast a growth rate of 13.5-16.5 percent for the industrythis year because of the global economic downturn.
Lam added that domestic plastic producers are facing competition from other countries in the region.
Moreover, businesses need to focus on environmentally-friendly and safe products for sustainable growth in exports.
Lastyear, domestic plastic firms accounted for 45 percent of the country'stotal export turnover. The balance was accounted for byforeign-investor-led enterprises.-VNA