The pace of growth was disappointing, slowed by the global economic downturn and the dollar’s weakness against the euro, according to the Viet Nam Trade Office in Belgium.

Among the exports to Belgium, footwear reached the highest turnover of $291 million, an increase of 4 per cent over 2007. Garment accessories reached only $71.2 million, a year-on-year decrease of 4 per cent.

During the year, the prices of many seafood products exported to Belgium fell, including frozen tra and basa catfish, which dropped 10 per cent, and frozen cuttle fish, which was off 4 per cent. Shrimp prices rose 7 per cent, however, as did the price of frozen tuna, up 46 per cent.

Currently, Belgium is Viet Nam’s fourth largest import market in the EU, after Germany, the UK and the Netherlands. It is a key European distribution centre, with export goods eligible for duty-free re-export to other EU member states.