Making garments for export to Japan. (Photo: VNA)

From January-April, exports totalled USD103.9 billion, an increase of 28.3 % against the same period last year.

The domestic sector exported USD25.76 billion worth of goods and services, up 12.8% year-on-year and accounting for 24.8% of the total overseas shipments, while the foreign-invested sector contributed USD78.14 billion, up 34.4% and representing 75.2% of the total.

Highest growth was seen in the heavy industry and mining sector, which generated USD57.58 billion in export revenue, a year-on-year rise of 33%. It was followed by the light and craft industries, 27.5%; and agriculture and forestry, 8.8%.

The US was Vietnam’s largest buyer during the period, with a value of USD30.3 billion, up 50.1% year-on-year. China came second, purchasing USD16.8 billion worth of goods and services from Vietnam, up 32.4%; followed by the EU, USD12.6 billion and 18.1%.

Four-month imports rose by 30.8% from a year earlier to USD102.6 billion. Some 93.9% of the imports were capital goods, worth a total of USD96.31 billion, up 31.4%. The remainder was consumer goods, valued at USD6.3 billion, up 22.5%.

China remained as Vietnam’s biggest seller with USD33.1 billion worth of goods and services shipped to Vietnam, up 47.8% year-on-year, followed by the Republic of Korea (USD16.9 billion), ASEAN (USD14.1 billion), and Japan (USD7.2 billion).

The GSO also reported trade surplus of USD1.29 billion and total retail sales of goods and services of close to VND1.7 quadrillion (USD73.5 billion) in the first four month of the year, up 10% year-on-year./.

BTA