Deficit of more than $ US 2.56 billion

Import turnover of the ten largest commodity groups of Vietnam (accumulated to April 15, 2017, compared to the same period in 2016)

According to the General Department of Customs, the Vietnam’s import-export turnover in the first half of April, 2017 (from April 01, 2017 to April 15, 2017) reached nearly $ US 16.37 billion, down by 13.9% (equal to $ US 2.65 billion) compared to the second half of March, 2017. Thus, the balance of trade in the first half of April, 2017 was in a deficit of $US 501 million, bringing the country’s balance of trade from the beginning of the year to April 15, 2017 was in a deficit of more than $US 256 billion, equal to 4.9% of the country’s total export turnover.

Also in the first half of April, 2017, the FDI group reached an export turnover of nearly $US 10.87 billion, down by 13%, equivalent to $US 1.62 billion over the second half of Marc, 2017. By the end of April 15, 2017 this group reached an export turnover of nearly $ US 70.05 billion, up by 18.5%, equivalent to nearly $ US 10.95 billion over the same period in 2016, accounting for 65.1% of the country’s total export turnover. The balance of trade of the FDI group was in a surplus of $ US 504 million in the first half of April, 2017, bringing the surplus of this group from the beginning of the year to the end of April 15, 2017 to more than $ US 3.92 billion.

About exports, the Vietnam’s export turnover in the first half of April, 2017 reached more than $ US 7.93 billion, down by 16% (equivalent to $ US 1.51 billion) compared to the second half of March, 2017. By the end of April 15, 2017 the country’s total export turnover reached nearly $ US 52.51 billion, up by 13.9% (equivalent to more than $ US 6.42 billion) compared to the same period in 2016.

Compared to the second half of March, 2017, the exports in the first half of April, 2017 had a strong movement in some following groups: Computers, electronic products, and components decreased by 27.8%, equivalent to $ US 319 million, Textiles and garment decreased by 20.4%, equivalent to $ US 255 million; Steel decreased by 62.8%, equivalent to $ US 108 million, Wood and wooden products decreased by 23.8%, equivalent to $ US 93 million. Meanwhile, there are a few of commodity groups whit increase in export turnover such as: Telephones and accessories increased by 3%, equivalent to $ US 53 million, Rice increased 6.5%, equivalent to $ US 8 million, Bag, wallets, suitcases and umbrella increased by 3.3%, equivalent to $ US 5 million.

The export value of FDI group on this period reached more than $ US 5.68 billion, down by 14.8% (equivalent to $ US 990 million) compared to the second half of March, 2017. Hence, by the end of April 15, 2017, the FDI group’s export turnover reached more than $ US 36.98 billion, accounting for 70.4% of the country’s total export turnover, increasing by 14.3%, equivalent to more than $ US 4.61 billion compared to the same period in 2016.

About imports, the Vietnam’s import turnover in the first half of April, 2017 reached more than $ US 8.43 billion, down by 11% (equivalent to $ US 1.14 billion) compared to the second half of March, 2017. By the end of April 15, 2017 the country’s total export turnover reached more than $ US 55.07 billion, up by 23.1% (equivalent to nearly $ US 10.34 billion) compared to the same period in 2016.

Compared to the second half of March, 2017, the imports in the first half of April, 2017 drastically decreased in some groups as below: Computers, electronic products and components decreased by 18.4, equivalent to $ US 302 million, Machinery, tools and other spare parts decreased by 8.4%, equivalent to $ US 144 million; Coal decreased by 79.8%, equivalent to $ US 105 million, Telephones and accessories decreased by 17.1%, equivalent to $ US 103 million, Petroleum decreased by 29.4%, equivalent to $ US 92 million. In contrast, some commodity groups had an increase in import turnover such as: Steel and Iron increased by 13.2%, equivalent to $ US 56 million, Corn increased by 105.5%, equivalent to $ US 46 million, and Soybeans increased by 1.25 times, equivalent to $ US 19 million.

The import value of FDI group in the first half of April, 2017 reached more than $ US 5.18 billion, down by 10.9% (corresponding to $ US 635 million) compared to the second half of March, 2017. Therefore, by the end of April 15, 2017, the FDI group’s export turnover reached more than $ US 33.06 billion, up by 23.7%, corresponding to nearly $ US 6.34 billion, accounting for 60% of the country’s total import turnover.