Vietnamese exports of wood products to Japan are expected to reach US$150-175m this year, according to the Vietnam Wood and Forestry Product Association.
The organisation says exports to Japan have grown steadily during the past five years and predicts they will double by 2010.
The country is among the five biggest exporters of wood products to Japan, with its shipments accounting for 7.3% of Japan’s total wood imports.
Reasons for Vietnam’s success include low labour and transportation costs, plus input from Japanese investors who have helped make products more competitive.
But the country is heavily reliant on imported wood raw material, with up to 80% of the timber industry’s supply being shipped in.
