Timber shipments to Middle East surge sharply
VGP – Timber exports to the Middle East reached US$37.3 million, up 37.1% in the first half of this year, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
Between 2009 and 2013, Viet Nam’s furniture exports to Middle Eastern markets increased three times with the total turnover for 2013 hitting a record of US$54.6 million.
In the first quarter of 2014 alone, timber shipments surged by 38% to US$18.6 million.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Kuwait and Israel are among key importers.
Over the past years, the UAE was the largest importer of Vietnamese wood products with the import value of US$12.8 million in 2012, accounting for 36% of Viet Nam’s total wood exports to the Middle East.
Meanwhile, Viet Nam shipped US$15.3 million of wood products to Saudi Arabia last year, making up 28% of the former’s total wood exports to this region.
According to the International Trade Center, the region yearly imports nearly US$6 billion of wood products.
So far, made-in-Viet Nam timber products are present in over 120 countries and territories worldwide and have become a key export commodity./.
By Khanh Phuong
