Vietnamese exports to Australia grew 11.5 per cent over the same period last year, reaching approximately $1.07 billion.— VNA/VNS Photo Trong Dat

HA NOI (Biz Hub) — Viet Nam has experienced a trade surplus of US$410 million with Australia in the last four months, according to the Vietnamese Trade Office in Australia.

During the period, Vietnamese exports to Australia grew 11.5 per cent over the same period last year, reaching approximately $1.07 billion.

Of Viet Nam's 32 export products to Australia, 13 products recorded a turnover of at least $10 million. These goods accounted for 89.1 per cent of the nation's total export value to the market.

Among these reviewed goods, crude oil led with an export turnover of $497.4 million. Mobile phones and components ranked second, with $119.2 million, followed by steel and steel products, garment and textile, seafood, cashew nuts and footwear.

Meanwhile, agricultural exports were lacklustre. Coffee exports slumped 30 per cent compared with the same period last year, gaining $8.5 million. Pepper exports also declined by 6 per cent, hitting $3.2 million.

Rice exports remained flat at roughly 2,000 tonnes during the period. Analysts stated that it will be hard for Vietnamese rice exporters to foster their shipments to the market in the coming time due to stiff competition from Thailand.

During the January–April period, Viet Nam imported $658.3 million worth of goods from Australia, 1.5 times higher than the same period last year, with major imports including wheat, metals, iron, steel scrap, coal, pharmaceuticals, vegetable and fruits, machine and equipment as well as milk and milk products.

In ASEAN bloc, Australia has attached importance in enhancing bilateral relations with Viet Nam, the Ministry of Industry and Trade's Industry and Trade Information Centre revealed. — VNS