Jun 28, 2010. /Lesprom Network/. Since the beginning of this year, timber exports from Vietnam have earned more than $1.5 billion, up nearly 35% over the same period last year. Current, contracts that businesses have signed are worth more than $3 billion, a year-on-year increase of $320 million, as the local source reported. According to the Vietnam Timber and Forestry Products Association (Viforest), despite a slight increase in the cost of imported timber most businesses had stockpiled adequate supplies of raw materials at the beginning of the year so are not seriously affected. After facing a number of difficulties over the last two years, many businesses are now entering a golden period similar to 7-8 years ago. Viforest Vice General Secretary, Hoang Canh said that they can fulfill their yearly targets as exports to the US are expected to increase by nearly 10% compared to last year. In the meantime exports to other markets, such as Japan and the EU have also shown signs of picking up in both volume and value. The revenues of some businesses in the first half of this year are already equal to or even higher than for the whole of last year.