Pottery, porcelain exports increase   Tea sets produced by Hai Duong Porcelain Company. High demand for Vietnamese pottery and porcelain products has boosted exports. - VNA/VNS Photo Huy Hung HA NOI (VNS)- High demand has led to an increase in Viet Nam's pottery and porcelain exports in the early months of 2014, reported Viet Nam General Department of Customs. The department stated that in the first two months of this year, the nation had a year-on-year surge of 9.52 per cent in the export value of pottery and porcelain products reaching US$77.6 million. During the first two months, 12 out of 21 export markets for the products reported a growth in export value, including Italy, which recorded a year-on-year increase of 187.02 per cent to reach $1.2 million. The growth in export value in those markets increased the total export value of pottery and porcelain products during the first two months. The export value of pottery and porcelain products to Japan reached its highest value at $13.4 million, an increase of 14.33 per cent against the same period last year, accounting for 17.3 per cent of the total national export value. The US recorded the second-highest export value at $12.6 million, up 22.81 per cent as compared to the same period last year. In the first two months, Viet Nam added many new export markets for its pottery and porcelain products, including Sweden, Singapore, Hong Kong, India, Laos, and the Philippines. However, some markets saw a decrease in export value of those products, of which exports to China decreased by 56.24 per cent to reach only $259,500. Experts in the pottery and porcelain industry said export markets, such as Vietnamese pottery and porcelain products, expanded because of their superior designs and the high quality of the products. The national exports of pottery and porcelain products increased also due to an export recovery noted in the Dong Nai Province. According to the Dong Nai Fine Art Porcelain Association the recovering global economy has led to increased retail sales and construction activities. Also, since the end of 2013 the province's pottery and porcelain products have recorded an increase in export volume to its traditional markets, especially black porcelain items made in Bien Hoa that sell well in the US market, said association officials. Additionally, the pottery and porcelain export companies have so far received export orders from new markets. The associations said porcelain producers in the province have planned to expand their export markets to potential countries in Europe and Asia, while promoting exports to the traditional markets. Large porcelain export companies in Dong Nai include Taicera Pottery and Porcelain Industrial Joint Stock Company, Pancera International Joint Stock Company and Viet Thanh Pocerlain Joint Stock Company. - VNS