Wood sector surpasses export target despite COVID-19

Illustrative photo (Source: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Despite two official scenariospredicting wood and wooden products exports to rake in less than 14.5 billionUSD this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the country's export revenue is now estimated at 14.72billion USD.

The sector began recovering its production in October andsaw its overseas shipments reeling in 1.27 billion USD in November alone, up2.5 percent on-year, according to data from the Ministry of Industry andTrade’s Agency of Foreign Trade.

Notably, statistics of the General Department of VietnamCustoms showed that between January and November, Vietnam exported 7.93billion USD worth of wood and wooden products to the US, an annual growth of 24.6 percent. The sector's shipments to China and Japan during the period earned 1.36billion USD and 1.28 USD, increasing 26.6 percent and 11.2 percent against2020, respectively.

The strong recovery was thanks to prompt support anddirections from the Government and competent agencies, particularly the Ministryof Agriculture and Rural Development, as well as efforts made by firmsoperating in the sector and increasing demand from the international market.

Vietnam is currently the world's second biggest exporter of timberand wooden products. The wood sector groups more than 560businesses, generating nearly 1 million jobs./.

VNA