Details of the largest import groups in Vietnam in 2018

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According to the General Department of Customs, in December 2018, the country’s total import turnover reached US$ 20.45 billion, down 5.3% in relative number and decreased by Ú$ 1.15 billion in absolute number compared to November, 2018

In this month, 34/53 main import groups decreased compared to the previous month. In particular, there was a sharp decline in commodity groups: Computers, electronic products and components down by US$ 306 million; telephones and accessories down by US$ 277 million; petroleum of all kinds down by US$ 130 million; fabrics of all kinds down by US$ 96 million; plastic materials down by US$ 92 million and so on

In 2018, the country's imports gained US$ 236.69 billion, up 11.1% over the previous year.

The commodity groups which have an increase in turnover, were: Computers, electronic products and components up by US$ 4.42 billion; crude oil up by UA$ 2.27 billion; plastic materials up by US$ 1.48 billion; fabrics of all kinds and common metals up by US$ 1.39 billion; chemicals up by US$ 1.04 billion and so on compared to the previous year.

Specifically, computers, electronic products and components reached US$ 42.2 billion, up 11.7%. With this import scale, this group still maintains the leading position established since 2017.

The main markets providing this group to Vietnam include: South Korea with a turnover of US$ 17.26 billion, up 12.6%, accounting for 41% of the country’s total import turnover of this group.

Followed by Chinese market with US$ 7.83 billion, up 10.6%; Japanese market with US$ 4.06 billion, up 27.2%.

Machinery, equipment, tools and spare parts reached US$ 33.73 billion, slightly decreased by 0.5%.

Import value of this group in 2018 from China reached US$ 12.02 billion, up 10.2%; from South Korea reached US$ 6.17 billion, down 29% and from Japan reached US$ 4.43 billion, up 2.7%.

Telephones and accessories achieved US$ 15.87 billion, down 3.5%.

South Korea and China were still the two main markets providing telephones of all kinds and accessories to Vietnam with a value of up to 93.2% of the country's import value for this group Of which, from China was US$ 8.58 billion USD, down 1.9%; from South Korea was US$ 6.2 billion, up slightly by 0.4%.

The group of materials for textile and garment materials, leather and footwear (cotton, textile fibers, fabrics, materials for textile, garment, leather and footwear) collected US$ 23.91 billion, up 13.9%.

In 2018, Vietnamese enterprises imported these products mainly from the following markets: China with US$ 10.53 billion, up by 17.2%; South Korea with US$ 3.14 billion, up 5.1%; Taiwan with US$ 2.43 billion, up 3.2%, the United States with US$ 1.94 billion, up 22.3% and so on.

Material plastics and plastic products contributed US$ 4.96 billion, up 14.7%.

Vietnam mainly imported material plastics and plastic products from markets: South Korea reached US$ 3.47 billion, up 12.5%; China reached US$ 3.17 billion, up 11.5%; Taiwan reached US$ 1.52 billion, up 16.6% and so on.

Iron and steel of all kinds reached 13.53 million tons, worth US$ 9.89 billion, down 9.8% in volume but up 9.0% in value.

China continues to be the largest export market for iron and steel for Vietnam in 2018 with 6.27 million tons, worth US$ 4.5 billion, down 10.2% in volume, but up 9.6 % in value.

The Japanese market was in second place with 2.23 million tons, worth US$ 1.59 billion, down 2% in volume and 12.7% in value; South Korea ranked third with 1.7 million tons, worth US$ 1.41 billion, down 0.5% in volume and 15.4% in value.

Chemicals and chemical products reached US$ 10.19 billion, up 16.9%.

Chemicals and products were mainly imported to Vietnam from markets: China with US$ 2.96 billion, up 19.2%; Taiwan with US$ 1.19 billion, up 27.6%; South Korea with US$ 1.13 billion, up 13.7%.

Petroleum of all kinds reached 11.43 million tons, worth US$ 7.64 billion, down 11.4% in volume but up 8.1% in value.

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The export markets of petroleum to Vietnam in 2018 were mainly from: Malaysia with 3.28 million tons, up 22.4%; South Korea with 2.42 million tons, down 21.4%; Singapore with 2.4 million tons, down 44.2%.