Vietnam is estimated to reap export earnings of nearly 36.3 billion U.S. dollars in the first 11 months of this year, a year-on-year rise of 23.7 percent, according to a local trade agency on Friday.

Key items posting high export values in the period include garments and textiles, 5.4 billion dollars; seafood, over 3.1 billion dollars; pepper, 187 million dollars; and tea, 96 million dollars, said the Information Trade Center under the Trade Ministry.

Vietnam is set to import goods valued at nearly 40.8 billion dollars between January and November, posting a year-on-year increase of 21.4 percent.

Vietnam, which posted export turnovers of 32.2 billion dollars in 2005, a year-on-year increase of 21.6 percent, is boosting exports, diversifying markets and fostering trade promotion in an effort to gain this year's export growth of 17.4 percent as recently targeted by the country's National Assembly, its top legislative body.

Source: Xinhua