Among the export staples, machineries and equipment generated the highest growth, bringing in US$210 million, (up 139 percent) .

It was followed by electric wire and cable, estimated US$100 million (up 107.6 percent) rice at US$165 million (up 50.6 percent) and wood and wooden products at US$270 million (up37 percent).

To achieve the set target of US$60 billion in export value this year, a year-on-year increase of seven percent, the Ministry of Industry and Trade will increase exports of garment and textile, footwear, woodwork and electronic components which are believed to post high export value and growth rate.

Together with increasing the effectiveness of trade promotion programmes in key markets in Asia, Europe and North America, the Trade Promotion Department will also expand markets in Middle East, Latin America and Africa.

The department will continue to work for the US to grant Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) to Vietnam, and call on EU countries to abolish anti-dumping tax on the country’s leather-capped shoes exported to the EU.