Vietnam to import more paper in 2008

Videos
Photos

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-08-19 14:16

HANOI -- Vietnam is estimated to import some one million tons of paper and a considerable amount of paper pulp this year, local newspaper Vietnam Economic Times reported on Tuesday.

Vietnam imported 585,000 tons of paper of various kinds, and 118,000 tons of paper pulp in the first seven months of this year, but its demand for printing and writing paper as well as paper used to print newspapers was not fully met, the paper reported, quoting the state-owned Vietnam Paper Corporation, the biggest paper producer in Vietnam.

The Vietnam Paper and Pulp Association has recently proposed the Ministry of Industry and Trade remove import taxes on paper from Southeast Asian countries, and halve value-added tax (VAT) on paper pulp.

Under the proposal, the tax rate on paper imported from members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) would decrease to zero percent from current 5 percent, and VAT on paper pulp and all kinds of paper, excluding paper for printing newspapers to 5 percent from 10 percent. VAT on paper for printing newspapers should be removed.

Vietnam imported 841,000 tons of paper of different kinds, totaling $595 million in 2007, posting respective rises of 18.5 percent and 25.1 percent against 2006, according to the country's General Statistics Office.