Hanoi , July 9 (VNA) - The domestic index for industrial production has increased by 4.5 percent in the first six months of this year, much lower than the rise of 12.7 percent recorded in the same period last year.
The figures were released by the Ministry of Industry and Trade at a conference in Hanoi on July 9. The figures show that industry still has to face a wide range of difficulties, due to the falling demand for many processed products, weak purchasing power and large stocks. However, during the reviewed period, export turnover increased by more than 22 percent against the same period last year, with processed industrial products making a big contribution. The Ministry is making every effort to export 9.4 billion USD worth of goods and materials every month during the second half of the year to fulfil the yearly target of 109.5 billion USD. In the last six months, the gap in the balance of trade has narrowed, as the import growth is much lower than export growth. The trade deficit now accounts for 1.3 percent of total export turnover. The ministry also said much remains to be done in the second half of this year to achieve the yearly target of an over-13-percent growth in export value.
Vietnam News Agency
