The pace of growth was disappointing, slowed by the global economic downturn and the dollar’s weakness against the euro, according to the Viet Nam Trade Office in Belgium.
Among the exports to Belgium, footwear reached the highest turnover of $291 million, an increase of 4% over 2007. Garment accessories reached only $71.2 million, a year-on-year decrease of 4%.
During the year, the prices of many seafood products exported to Belgium fell, including frozen tra and basa catfish, which dropped 10%, and frozen cuttle fish, which was off 4%. Shrimp prices rose 7%, however, as did the price of frozen tuna, up 46%.
Currently, Belgium is Viet Nam’s fourth largest import market in the EU, after Germany, the UK and the Netherlands. It is a key European distribution centre, with export goods eligible for duty-free re-export to other EU member states.
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