The trade deficit will increase to as much as 14 billion USD next year, up from this year's estimated 12 billion USD, according to a forecast from the Ministry of Planning and Investment's Economic Services Department.
Exports next year, excluding crude oil, were expected to total 78 billion USD– an increase of 10 percent over the current year.
The department anticipated that exports by foreign-invested firms would make up roughly 38 billion USD, or nearly 49 percent, of the total – an increase of 13 percent over this year.
At the same time, imports were projected to jump by 11 percent next year to about 92 billion USD, with foreign-invested firms responsible for 41.5 billion USD for their imports, 15.3 percent higher than this year.
Export value in the current year had risen 24 percent to 70.8 billion USD, benefiting from surges in both prices and the volume of exports, the department said, noting that export of value-added products from the manufacturing sector had risen while that of raw materials had reduced.
High global prices and a disadvantageous foreign exchange rate had also driven up the costs of imports in 2009, with the department estimating that imports for the year would increase by 18.4 percent over the previous year to 82.8 billion USD.
The trade deficit for the year was estimated to reach 12 billion USD, 22.5 percent lower than last year's figure./.
Exports next year, excluding crude oil, were expected to total 78 billion USD– an increase of 10 percent over the current year.
The department anticipated that exports by foreign-invested firms would make up roughly 38 billion USD, or nearly 49 percent, of the total – an increase of 13 percent over this year.
At the same time, imports were projected to jump by 11 percent next year to about 92 billion USD, with foreign-invested firms responsible for 41.5 billion USD for their imports, 15.3 percent higher than this year.
Export value in the current year had risen 24 percent to 70.8 billion USD, benefiting from surges in both prices and the volume of exports, the department said, noting that export of value-added products from the manufacturing sector had risen while that of raw materials had reduced.
High global prices and a disadvantageous foreign exchange rate had also driven up the costs of imports in 2009, with the department estimating that imports for the year would increase by 18.4 percent over the previous year to 82.8 billion USD.
The trade deficit for the year was estimated to reach 12 billion USD, 22.5 percent lower than last year's figure./.
