A recent article in the Los Angeles Times reported that Vietnam's export of wooden products has increased to an impressive US$2.36 billion in 2007 from the US$200 million sales revenue in 2000. The figures have put the country among the top three sourcing centres for furniture in Asia, the paper said.

Vietnam's Ministry of Trade has anticipated continuous growth, with wooden product exports expected to hit US$ 5.5 billion by 2010.

To further expand their export markets, Vietnamese furniture suppliers are accepting mixed orders, investing in automated equipment, and sending their employees abroad for training.

While the US is currently the biggest importer of Vietnamese-made furniture, many suppliers will target the EU in the coming months, the US paper predicted.