The association affirmed that Vietnam can not export 780,000 tons of rubber in 2007 as initial plan, forecasting that the total export volume may reach 700,000 tons by the end of this year.
VRA said that Vietnam’s rubber imports will be around 200,000 tons, mostly for re-exporting to China, down from 236,000 tons last year. The country usually imports rubber from Thailand, Cambodia and Indonesia.
But it noted that Vietnam’s domestic rubber production will increase to 600,000 tons of rubber this year, up from 553,500 tons in 2006
In the first ten months, Vietnam exported 576,000 tons of rubber valued at $1.079 billion, down by 0.8 per cent on year in volume and 0.2 per cent in value.
Last year, the country exported 708,000 tons of rubber, with 65 per cent of which coming to China.