A phone production line at a factory run by Samsung Viet Nam in the northern province of Bac Ninh. Viet Nam's export turnover of phones and accessories reached US$21.5 billion this year, ranking first in the country. — VNA/VNS Photo Duc Tam

HA NOI (Biz Hub)— Viet Nam's export turnover of phones and accessories reached US$21.5 billion this year, ranking first among the country's export items.

Figures from the General Customs Office (GSO) showed that turnover of exported phones and accessories posted a 69.2 per cent year-on-year rise.

These exported products have seen the highest growth rate and turnover in the past five years.

The office said exports of phones and accessories this year surpassed the garment and textile sector, topping the list of the country's export staples.

The garment and textile export turnover was $17.9 billion this year, followed by computers and spare parts, which were listed at $10.7 billion.

Exports of phones and accessories accounted for one-fifth of the country's total export turnovers, and one-half of the trade sector's growth, said the office.

Further, export turnover of these items was $300-400 million monthly in previous years, reaching $1.3 billion in July 2011.

Le Thi Minh Thuy, head of GSO's Trade and Service Statistics Department, told VnExpress online newspaper that the sharp increase in exports of phones and accessories was attributed to the contribution of Samsung Electronics Viet Nam, which made up 98 per cent of the country's exported mobile phones and accessories last year.

Also, these items contributed 20 per cent to the country's total export turnover, Thuy added. — VNS