Exports were pretty slow in the early months of this year because of the negative impact of the global crisis, and there is no positive sign of the trend, said the report by 's Central Institute for Economic Management.

The forecast was made on estimated 50 percent fall of global crude oil prices and 20 percent drop of international agricultural products price, said the report.

Crude oil and agricultural products are 's key exports.

Vietnamese export value stood at 62.9 billion U.S. dollars last year, official statistics showed. According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers, local firms had met severe challenges of narrowing overseas markets and raw material shortages.

The number of overseas markets for Vietnamese seafood decreased to 122 countries and regions this year from 159 markets last year.

The majority of local seafood processors are running at 70 percent of their overall capacity due to the shortage of raw materials.

Another major foreign currency earner for , the garment and textile, hit a 10.8 percent decrease in revenue in the first four months this year.

The institute predicted that 's trade deficit would be equal to 8.7 percent of the country's GDP in 2009.

Source: Xinhua News Agency