HCM City rakes in over 1.3 bln USD from exports in January

Ho Chi Minh City, the country’s largest commercial hub, grossed over 1.3 billion USD from exports in January, up 8.8 percent from a year ago.
Ho Chi Minh City, the country’s largest commercial hub, grossed over 1.3 billion USD from exports in January, up 8.8 percent from a year ago.

Of the amount, the state-owned economic sector contributed 53.1 percent (up 7.2 percent); the private sector, 20.6 percent (up 13.1 percent) and the foreign-invested sector, 26.2 percent (up 8.6 percent).

The city-based businesses in the month exported 150,000 tonnes of rice, earning 63.3 million USD (up 42.1 percent). In addition, in spite of challenges in the export market, the city grossed 24.3 million USD from aquatic exports, up 6.1 percent.

Economic experts said garment and footwear businesses in the city have secured export contracts since late last year thanks to the world’s economic recovery. However, these businesses are suffering a shortage of workers, especially skilled workers.

Last month, the city’s businesses spent over 1.1 billion USD on imports, up 21.8 percent over the same period last year. Among imports, milk products registered the highest growth with 86.3 percent, followed by steel with 36.4 percent, pharmaceutical products with 33.7 percent and garment materials, 13.2 percent.

The city is taking measures to encourage the production of export-oriented items and expand its export market./.

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