Vietnam posted total trade value of $26.08 billion in the first half of April, including $13.24 billion worth of exports, down 15.3 per cent compared to the second half of March, figures from the General Department of Vietnam Customs show.

This brought total trade this year to $179.74 billion as of April 15, down 14.6 per cent year-on-year, of which total export revenue is estimated at $92.5 billion.

The department’s figures also show that the FDI sector recorded total export turnover of $9.56 billion in the first half of April, bringing the figure this year to $68.6 billion, accounting for 74.2 per cent of the country’s total export value.

Vietnam imported $12.84 billion worth of products in the first half of the month, down 10.9 per cent against the second half of March.

Explaining the decline in export value, the Ministry of Industry and Trade said most sectors have faced difficulties due to high inflation and low consumption demand.