Viet Nam's exports dropped during the first half of April compared to the second half of March, due to declines in the export of major articles. — Photo vietstock.vn

HA NOI (Biz Hub) — The national balance of trade saw a surplus of about US$1.48 billion this year, reported Hai quan, the online newspaper of the Viet Nam Customs.

The figure nearly doubled the $750 million trade surplus recorded by the General Statistics Office late last month, for the first quarter of 2016.

Between the beginning of the year and April 15, Viet Nam exported goods worth $46.11 billion, up 7.7 per cent over the same period last year.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) enterprises contributed $32.4 billion to the total export value, accounting for 70 per cent of all exports.

Viet Nam's exports dropped during the first half of April compared to the second half of March, due to declines in the export of major articles.

For example, telephones and components fell by $298 million, crude oil was down $99.7 million, and garment and textile products decreased $86 million.

Machinery and spare parts also fell by more than $60 million, iron and steel dropped by $50 million, and footware contracted by $29 million.

Some products saw an increase in exports, such as handbags, wallets, hats and umbrellas (up $19.2 million), coffee (up $18 million) and cashew nuts (up $17 million).

Meanwhile, Viet Nam's imports totalled $44.63 billion as of April 15 this year, down 3.1 per cent over the same period last year.

FDI firms contributed $26.72 billion to the total import value, or 60 per cent of all imports.

With regard to April's imports, computers, electronic products and components fell by $272 million, iron and steel dropped by $53 million, telephones and components were down $41 million, and machinery and equipment decreased $36 million.

A few products witnessed an increase in imports, such as animal feed and materials (up $61.4 million), cloth (up $50 million) and pharmaceuticals (up $22 million). — VNS