Exports of essential goods, including agricultural and aquacultural products to Japan had increased in the wake of the recent earthquake, according to experts.

In the past week, demand for fresh vegetables from Japan had increased by 10 percent, said Director of the Lam Dong Foodstuff and Agricultural Produce Joint Stock Company Pham Van Phung.

Phung attributed the rising demand to the shortage of vegetables due to the quake and its impact in Japan.

He added that supply from China had dropped compared to previous years because of drought.

In addition, because of the problems at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant, exports of natural fuel including coal may also increase.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade predicted that Japan would have a high demand for minerals, especially crude oil, in the near future.

Demand from Japan for necessary commodities such as garments, footwear, paper and wood-based products was unlikely to fall.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Thanh Bien said that demand for electrical products will increase because many large companies based in Japan including Sony, Canon and Fujitsu had been affected by the crisis.

Because of this, Japan may import more electrical products from its plants in Vietnam, Bien said.

In terms of imports, Vietnam is worried that computer and spare parts will be limited due to the crisis, and supplies of petrol and chemical products will be cut. /.