HANOI, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam gained total paper and paper product export turnovers of 732 million U.S. dollars in 2017, up 14.5 percent against 2016, with the biggest export market being China, tailed by the United States and Japan.

In December alone, Vietnam exported 59 million U.S. dollars worth of paper and paper-based products, the General Department of Vietnam Customs said on Friday.

Vietnamese paper and paper-based products are now available in 17 countries and regions.

Vietnam's paper industry grew 1.5 percent this year, and is expected to maintain the growth rate next year, according to the Vietnam Pulp and Paper Association.

To boost the country's paper production and export next year, an international pulp and paper expo will be held in June 2018 in Ho Chi Minh City, said the association.