According to the Vietnamese Ministry of Trade (MoT), bilateral trade between Vietnam and the EU is estimated to reach a record of $9.2 billion in 2006, up 13.58% compared with 2005.

Vietnam is forecast to attain $6.05 billion from exports to the EU, a year-on-year increase of 12.04%, resulting in a trade surplus of $2.9 billion.

Footwear exports still remain the country’s biggest cash earner, with a total revenue of $2 billion in 2005, doubling the 2000 figure, followed by garments and textiles with export values of $820 million last year.

Last year, trade between the nations reached $8.1 billion, of which Vietnam gained $5.4 billion from exports, and imported $2.7 billion of goods from the EU, up three times compared with the 2000 figure.

In the first half of this year, Vietnam’s exports to the EU were forecast to rise by 32% on-year, with a 67% growth in textiles and garments.