Vietnam expects to reach an export turnover of 85.5 billion U.S. dollars in 2011, 6.1 billion U.S. dollars higher than the target set by the Vietnamese National Assembly, reported the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MIT) on Tuesday.

The expected figure is based on results obtained in the first half of the year, with total export value during the period reached 42.3 billion U.S. dollars, an increase of 30.3 percent year-on-year, MIT said.

MIT forecast in 2011 the export value of agriculture and seafood products would reach 19 billion U.S. dollars, fuel and minerals with 10.6 billion U.S. dollars and industrial products with 45 billion U.S. dollars, and textile and garment with 13 billion U.S dollars.

MIT also predicted total imports would cost from 98.5 billion to 99.5 billion U.S. dollars for the whole year, making a trade deficit of about 14 billion to 15 billion U.S. dollars.