Export and import activities have been busy since the start of the Lunar New Year (January 25), with some product groups reaching export value of over US$1 billion each.

About 55 ships have docked at HCM City's Tan Cang-Cat Lai Port, the biggest port in the country, since that time, carrying around 54,500 20-ft equivalent unit of goods, according to Nguyen Nang Toan, deputy general director of the Sai Gon Newport Corporation.

During the period, goods such as agricultural products and textiles and garments from more than 139 HCM City businesses were loaded on container ships travelling to Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan and other markets.

"Even in the first few days of a new year, everyone has been working urgently and excitedly. Many of the first containers of imports and exports have completed customs clearance procedures, signifying a year of positive economic growth and contributing towards reaching the 2020 export goal of $300 billion," Toan told Tien Phong newspaper.

During the Tet period, over 4,000 Sai Gon Newport Corporation staff worked on the scene to ensure goods cleared, supporting the country's import and export activities.

Tran Anh Tu, deputy manager of Lao Cai Province International Border Gate Customs under the provincial Department of Customs, said that by the end of January 26, more than 1,300 tonnes of agricultural goods had been granted customs clearance for export to China.

Exports such as computers and electronics, textiles and garments, and phones and components reached over $1 billion value each during the period.

As of January 15, total export value nationwide was $10.8 billion, and import value $11.3 billion, according to the General Department of Customs. The figures are 18.3 per cent and 10.7 per cent higher than the same period last year, respectively.

Viet Nam's demand for imported goods spikes during the first few days of the year due to Tet, while exporting activities decline since businesses are on holiday, according to the Customs Department's Import- Export Duty Department. After Tet, exporting activities rise.

The Prime Minister has assigned an import and export goal of over $520 billion, and a trade surplus of $15-17 billion in 2020. — VNS