Vietnam to cut coal exports

Vietnam's Trade Ministry is compiling an export plan for 2006-2010. Accordingly, the volume of high-content exports will rise, but raw material and mineral exports will decrease. Crude oil and coal exports are expected to decrease from the projected 21 percent in 2006 to 9.6 percent in 2010. Coal exports will see a gradual decrease as Vietnam government plans to limit exporting natural resources. Coal exports will be kept at 11 million metric tons during 2006-2007 and export volume will be reduced to 10 million metric tons in 2008 and 9 million metric tons in 2009. In 2010, export volume is expected to be just 8 million metric tons.