Vietnam’s posted total exports and imports of $13.63 billion and $14.78 billion, respectively, in the first half of November, for a trade deficit of nearly $1.15 billion. Trade was down 6.3 per cent in the period compared to the second half of October.

Exports in the first half of November fell 16.7 per cent against the second half of October as a result of downturns in computers and electrical products (41.2 per cent), machinery, tools, and equipment (14.3 per cent), telephones, mobile phones, and components (10.9 per cent), and crude oil (49.2 per cent).

Imports rose 5.8 per cent compared to the second half of October, on the back of upturns in machinery, tools, and equipment (16.9 per cent), crude oil (54.8 per cent), and motor vehicles (99.8 per cent).

Trade stood at $644.7 billion from January 1 to November 15, up 13.1 per cent year-on-year. Exports reached $326.68 billion, up 14.8 per cent, and imports $318.02 billion, up 11.4 per cent, for a surplus of $8.66 billion.

Of note, exports and imports by FDI enterprises totaled $448.55 billion, a rise of 13.6 per cent year-on-year, and by domestic enterprises $196.15 billion, up 12 per cent.