Vietnam is estimated to earn US$8.3 billion from exporting goods to the European Union (EU) this year, up from US$6.8 billion last year, according to a local trade agency today.

In 2007, Vietnam's seafood exports to the EU is likely to surge 49 percent to US$1.5 billion, coffee up 30 percent to US$621.4 million, woodwork up 6 percent to US$509 million, electronics goods up 40 percent to US$385.2 million, rubber up 50 percent to US$233.2 million, plastic products up 59 percent to US$164.3 million, and handicrafts up 6 percent to US$192 million, said the Europe Department under the Trade Ministry.

Local exports to the EU which will post high growth in the coming years include seafood, woodwork, garments, textiles, rubber products, mechanical goods, electrical home appliances, information technology items and toys, the department predicted.

Vietnam made total export revenues of US$39.6 billion in 2006. In the year, the United States remained Vietnam's biggest export market, followed by the EU, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Japan and China.