The Municipal Department of Industry and Trade estimates Ho Chi Minh City’s total 2012 export turnover at US$30.25 billion, a year-on-year increase of 7.36 percent.

Speaking at a recent city cabinet meeting, the Department's Deputy Director Huynh Khanh Hiep said domestic firms accounted for US$21.45 billion of the export turnover, up 4.56 percent on the previous year, while foreign-invested enterprises posted the remaining US$8.8 billion, up 14.87 percent.

The five commodities exceeding US$1 billion in exports are textiles and garments, electric and electronic products, rice, footwear, and rubber products.

There have been significant increases in processed and manufactured goods and hi-tech product exports, and a steady decrease in the export of raw materials, said Hiep.

Value additions have been seen in the export of rice, coffee, rubber, and seafood products, he said.

This year also saw emerging products achieve high export growth rates like electronic and computer components.

The city's goods have been shipped to 228 countries and territories this year, meaning successful expansions into four new markets since 2011.

HCM City currently has some 18,000 companies involved in international trade.

In 2013, the city targets a GDP (gross domestic product) growth rate exceeding 9.5 percent and a per capita income of US$4,000.

It also aims to record investments valued at VND248.5 trillion  (US$11.9 billion) and comprising over 36 percent of the city’s GDP; to bring the city’s CPI (consumer price index) to below the national average; and to increase export revenues by 13.5 percent compared to 2012.

Source: VOV