Vietnam exports affected as EU close borders

	Vietnam’s garment exports down 3.5% during Jan-Feb
	The strong growth of Vietnamese rice export in 2020
	Vietnam may surpass Thailand in rice exports

Vietnam exports are hurt by EU closing borders

The European Union’s decision to close its borders amid the Covid-19 pandemic could reduce Vietnam’s exports to it by up to 8 percent.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade made this estimate in a recent release after European leaders decide on March 17 to shut their borders for 30 days in an effort to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Though the ban on entry does not apply to goods, the trade ministry expects safety measures in Vietnam’s second largest export market after the U.S. to slow down trade and consumption.

Cargo shipped by air would face challenges due to restrictions on flights while demand for some billion-dollar export items like textiles, footwear, computers, and smartphones would have lower demand, the ministry said.

Vietnamese exporters have expressed concern.

Pham Xuan Hong, chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Association of Garments, Textiles, Embroidery and Knitting (AGTEK), said since the E.U. buys over 11 percent of Vietnam’s textile exports, the industry would be hit if buyers in the bloc stop placing orders.

Overall exports to Europe last year were worth $41.48 billion, down 1 percent from 2018, with the main items being textiles, footwear, machinery and agriculture produce, and Germany being the largest market.

Vietnam recorded a trade surplus of $26.6 billion.

Vietnam works with Cambodia to facilitate goods transporation acrosss border Cambodia has asked for Vietnam’s coordination to ensure uninterrupted cross-border transport of goods amid the COVID-19 epidemic.

Border gate reopened for transport of Vietnamese exports to China A border gate between China and the northern Vietnamese province of Lang Son has been reopened for the transport of exports following a temporary shutdown ...

Coronavirus outbreak forces Vietnamese, Chinese border resident exchange reschedule The exchange between Vietnamese and Chinese border residents, initially scheduled on February 10, is set to take place later this month due to impact of ...