Viet Nam mainly shipped mobile phones, rubber, coffee, seafood and computers to these regions, while importing oil and related products, animal feed, cotton and fibre.—Photo vccinews

HA NOI (Biz Hub)— Viet Nam experienced a trade surplus of approximately US$4.65 billion with Africa, West Asia and South Asia markets during the first 10 months of 2013, according to official statistics.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade's Africa, West Asia, South Asia Market Department said Viet Nam's total trade turnover with the bloc was estimated at $14.8 billion as of the end of October, with exports surging by 46 per cent to $9.7 billion and imports by 22.7 per cent to $5.07 billion.

Viet Nam mainly shipped mobile phones, rubber, coffee, seafood and computers to these regions, while importing oil and related products, animal feed, cotton and fibre.

During the reviewed period, the country's exports to West Asia, in particular, saw a yearly increase of 70 per cent to $5.4 billion. Key export markets included the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Turkey and Saudi Arabia, contributing $3.5 billion, $998 million and $433 million, respectively.

Exports to South Asia grew 38 per cent, with separate earnings from India, Bangladesh and Pakistan estimated at $2.04 billion, $399 million and $139 million, respectively.

Meanwhile, exports to Africa hit $1.6 billion, up 7.1 per cent year-on-year. Four key export markets which recorded high export values were South Africa ($646 million), Ivory Coast ($233 million), Ghana ($210 million) and Egypt ($182 million).

From January to October, Viet Nam imported $429 million in goods from Africa (up 54 per cent), $2.3 billion from South Asia (up 21 per cent), and $2.2 billion from West Asia (up 21 per cent). — VNS