| Through 2007, Vietnamese economic market trends | | | | are some key considerations concerning this growing |
| indicated that civilian aircraft and industrial rubber were | | | | economic market: |
| the leading imported products, while cotton apparel and | | | | - Population: 86,116,559 - 13th most populous country in |
| home furnishings topped the exports list. This trend has | | | | the world (57% of the entire population is below the |
| apparently started changing somewhat with the | | | | age of 30) |
| conclusion of 2008. According to Daniel Workman in | | | | - GDP Real Growth Rate: 8.48% |
| his article "Top Vietnamese Exports and Imports", at | | | | - GDP percentage by economic sector: Agriculture - |
| the end of the 4th quarter, the trends now appear as | | | | 19.4%, Construction and Industry - 42.3%, and Services |
| follows: | | | | - 38.3% |
| Top 5 Fastest-growing export categories: | | | | - Principal exports: crude oil, electronic components and |
| - iron and steel mill products (semi-finished) | | | | products, fishery products, footwear, and garments |
| - plywood and wood veneers | | | | and textiles |
| - diamonds - both uncut and unset | | | | - Principal imports: equipment and replacement parts |
| - appliances - household and kitchen | | | | for machinery, refined petroleum, steel, textile industry |
| - DVD players, televisions, and assorted video | | | | cloth and materials |
| equipment | | | | Export Opportunities |
| Top 5 Fastest-growing import categories: | | | | According to the US Commercial Service based in |
| - nuts | | | | Hanoi, there are a number of potentially profitablefor |
| - industrial rubber products | | | | other countries yet to be investigated. For those |
| - copper | | | | companies and countries interested in entering this |
| - soybeans | | | | expanding Southeast Asian market, here is a list of the |
| - assorted non-ferrous (non-iron) metals | | | | 10 most lucrative sectors of the Vietnamese economy: |
| The Stage is Set for Profitable Imports | | | | - Airport and ground support equipment |
| Despite the global economy and the US financial | | | | - Computer hardware and software services |
| markets experiencing considerable turbulence in the | | | | - Education and training |
| 3rd and 4th quarters of 2008, Vietnam managed to | | | | - Environmental technologies (pollution control |
| exceed $10 billion (USD) in exports to the US by the | | | | equipment) |
| end of October (2008). This equaled the total of the | | | | - Franchise opportunities |
| entire prior year (2007). Current speculation is that | | | | - Gas, oil, and petroleum machinery and related |
| 2009 will see an increase over the prior year that | | | | services |
| could reach 15%. | | | | - Medical equipment and supplies |
| Conversely, current numbers indicate that US exports | | | | - Power distribution and transmission |
| alone into the Vietnamese market are approaching the | | | | - Safety and security equipment |
| $1.5 billion mark. Does this indicate that exporting | | | | - Telecommunications equipment and related services |
| products into Vietnam's market would be a profitable | | | | These are some of the best export opportunities in |
| and viable opportunity for other companies and | | | | Vietnam. |
| countries besides the United States? Absolutely. Here | | | | |