Vietnam exported US$802 million of plastics in 2009, down 13% from a year earlier, according to the Vietnam Plastics Association.

The fall was caused by drops in exports to major markets such as Japan, the U.S., Germany, the Netherlands, Cambodia, the U.K. and France, the association emphasized.

The domestic industry had to import up to 85% of materials, mostly from Asian countries such as Thailand, China and Singapore, the association said, adding costs for the materials account for 70%-75% of the total sales.

Vietnam plans to produce 1.38 million tons of raw materials by late this year.

The Southeast Asian country now has 2,000 plastics makers, which are employing 200,000 workers.

VNS