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VN runs nearly US$ 1 billion trade surplus in first half of March amid COVID-19 pandemic

VGP – Trade surplus in the first half of March stood at nearly US$1 billion despite COVID-19 pandemic, the General Department of Viet Nam Customs has reported.

March 19, 2020 3:22 PM GMT+7

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In the reviewed period, total trade touched over US$ 21.47 billion including US$ 11.2 billion of export turnover and US$ 10.3 billion of import value. 

By March 15, total export turnover hit US$ 50.3 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of 7%, equivalent to over US$ 3 billion. Meanwhile, import turnover reached over US$ 47.55 billion, up nearly 1.9%, equivalent to US$ 900 million in comparison with the same period last year. 

As of mid March, the country enjoyed a trade surplus of more than US$ 2.74 billion, said the agency.

Mobiles and spare parts were top exports in Jan-March period with over US$ 10.2 billion, up 8.5% against the same period last year. 

Meanwhile, import turnover of electronics and spare parts rose by 15% against the same period last year to US$ 11.03 billion. 

The Ministry of Industry and Trade forecast that in short term, Viet Nam’s trade activities would encounter difficulties due to negative impacts of COVID-19 outside China, especially in the RoK and Japan which are leading trade partners of Viet Nam.

Prolonged pandemic would enormously affect Viet Nam’s export goal in 2020, according to the ministry./.

By Kim Loan