Vietnam reported trade value of $27.58 billion in the first half of December, down 3.8 per cent against the second half of November, the General Department of Vietnam Customs announced on December 26.

The figure puts the country’s total trade value this year as of December 15 at $701.28 billion, a year-on-year increase of 10.5 per cent.

The total trade turnover of foreign enterprises reached $487.45 billion and $213.83 billion by domestic enterprises, up 10.7 per cent and 10.2 per cent, respectively, year-on year.

Exports were $13.62 billion in the first half of December, down 11.1 per cent compared to the second half of November. But exports posted a year-on-year increase of 12 per cent this year as of December 15, earning $355.82 billion.

Many export items posted major increases, including machinery, equipment, tools, and spare parts, up 21.5 per cent against December 2021; footwear, up 37.4 per cent; garments and textiles, up 17.2 per cent; and computers and electronic products and components, up 10.3 per cent.

In the first half of December, foreign enterprises’ exports totaled $9.96 billion, down 12.2 per cent against the second half of November. Their total exports this year as of December 15 stand at $262.6 billion, up 13.1 per cent year-on-year.

Meanwhile, Vietnam’s total imports this year hit $345.47 billion as of December 15, a year-on-year increase of 9.1 per cent.