Trade deficit up by 8%

Vietnam's exports are estimated to have risen 22.1% to 39.6bio US$ this year from 2005, but the annual trade deficit would widen 8% to 4.81bio US$, according to the Trade Ministry
While the export earnings were 4.9%t above the 2006 target, imports would still rise 20.4% from last year to 44.4bio US$.
Exports are forecast at 46.8bio US$ in 2007 as Vietnam benefits from its full World Trade Organisation membership, the Trade Ministry said.
Crude oil exports -- Vietnam's largest foreign exchange earner -- are estimated at 8.3bio US$ this year, followed by textiles at 5.8bio US$, 3.6bio US$ from footwear and 3.4bio US$ from seafood exports, the Trade Ministry said.
The highest growth in earnings this year was rubber, which would bring in 1.27 billionbio US$, or 58.3% more than last year.
Coffee exports would rise 49% on 2005 to 1.1bio US$. Vietnam is the world's biggest exporter of robusta coffee.
The government's statistics office is expected to release full trade figures later this month.

Source: Reuters