Vietnamese import-export turnover reached US$145.6 billion as of mid-March, enjoying a trade surplus of US$6.2 billion, according to figures compiled by the General Department of Vietnam Customs.

Throughout the reviewed period the country raked in approximately US$75.9 billion from exports, marking an increase of 20.57% against the same period from last year.

The nation spent a total of US$69.7 billion on importing goods, a rise of 15.78% on-year.

Most notably, in the first half of March there were a total of four export product groups with turnover reaching over US$1 billion, including computers, electronic products and components, phones and components, machinery, equipment, and spare parts, as well as garments and textiles.

According to the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, during the three-month period, fruit and vegetables exports surged by 27% to US$1.25 billion compared to the same period from last year.

This represents the first time that Vietnamese fruit and vegetable exports have exceeded the US$1 billion mark in the first quarter of the year.

Since the beginning of the year, apart from the agro-forestry group enjoying robust growth, the group of processing and manufacturing industrial products such as phones, computers, machinery and equipment has also made several breakthroughs.

During the two-month period, up to 39 out of 45 export items witnessed strong growth compared to the same period from last year. In particular, Vietnamese exports to major markets recovered during the reviewed period.

Among these markets, the United States became the country’s largest export market with exports soaring by 33.7% on-year, followed by Japan, the EU, and China with exports rising by 19.6%, 14.2%, and 7.7%, respectively.

Industry insiders pointed out that Vietnamese production and export activities have continued to rebound since the end of last year, thereby opening up bright prospects for the national economy in the year ahead.

VOV