Dong Nai (VNA) – The export turnoverof enterprises operating in the southern province of  Dong Nai in the first five months of 2019 hit7.7 billion USD,  representing ayear-on-year rise of 3.41 percent, according to the  provincial Department of Industry and Trade.

In May alone, the total export turnover of local firms reached 1.69 billionUSD, 9.84 percent higher than that of the previous month, and up 1.56 percentcompared to the same period of 2018.

Import and export activities in Dong Nai are mainly from foreign-investedenterprises, accounting for 85 percent of the province's total import andexport value.

In the first months of 2019, a number of key exporters of leather, textiles andmechanical products reported slower growth as compared to 2018.

The department attributed the locality’s slowlyincreased export turnover in the period to impacts from trade protectionpolicies of many countries around the world.

Director of the department Duong Minh Dungsaid the US-China trade war has caused countries in the region to build tariffbarriers to protect their domestic goods, and minimize imports, thus affecting Vietnam'sexports.

The provincial Association of Exporters said orders from now to the end of theyear of large enterprises operating in the leather and shoe industry in DongNai decreased from 10-15 percent, while those in the garment industry dropped by7 percent.

Meanwhile, local producers of wood and wood products in Dong Nai reported thatthey received orders until the end of 2019 but their partners are asking fordiscounts, adding that this causes many difficulties for them as the prices ofelectricity and gasoline have increased, raising production costs.

Although Dong Nai’s export turnover in the first five months increased slowly,the locality still enjoyed a trade surplus of 1.2 billion USD.

The locality’s export turnover is stillexpected to reach over 20 billion USD, with a trade surplus of 2.6 billion USD.-VNA