In January-September 2013, Vietnam's wood exports reached US$ 3,77 billion, a 12% increase as compared to the same period of 2012. According to figures provided by the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), exports of wood products to all major destinations for Vietnam grew as follows: 7,8% to the US; 17,1% to China; 20,3% to Japan and 49% to South Korea.

The US remains the leading importer of wood from Vietnam, with a share of 36,7% and a value of US$ 1,38 billion for the first nine months of 2013.

Estimations from the Ministry forecast, for the entire 2013, a total value of exports of US$ 5,5 billion, making Vietnam the second largest wood exporter in Asia. Officials of the Ministry say that ''this increase can be attributed to the global economic recovery and the fact that importers are shifting orders from China to Vietnam, due to lower wages and to avoid price volatilities''.