HANOI, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam reaped export turnovers of over 122.7 billion U.S. dollars in the first half of this year, a year-on-year increase of 7.3 percent, while seeing import turnovers of nearly 122.8 billion U.S. dollars, up 10.5 percent, the General Statistics Office said on Friday.
Specifically, Vietnam gained 23.5 billion U.S. dollars from exporting phones and components, up 4 percent; 15.5 billion U.S. dollars from electronic goods, computers and components, up 14.3 percent; 15 billion U.S. dollars from garments and textiles, up 9.9 percent; and 8.8 billion U.S. dollars from footwear, up 14.2 percent.
Between January and June, the United States remained Vietnam's biggest importer with turnovers of 27.5 billion U.S. dollars, tailed by the European Union with 20.6 billion U.S. dollars, and China with 16.8 billion U.S. dollars, said the office.
In the same period, Vietnam spent 24.3 billion U.S. dollars importing electronic appliances and components, up 20.9 percent; 17.9 billion U.S. dollars on machines, equipment and spare parts, up 14.8 percent; 6.7 billion U.S. dollars on cloth, up 7.6 percent; and 5 billion U.S. dollars on iron and steel, up 0.8 percent.
Meanwhile, China was Vietnam's largest exporter with turnovers of 36.8 billion U.S. dollars, up 21.8 percent, followed by South Korea with 22.9 billion U.S. dollars, up 1 percent, and the ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) with 16.3 billion U.S. dollars, up 6.4 percent, according to the office.
Vietnam recorded export turnovers of over 243.5 billion U.S. dollars in 2018, up 13.2 percent against 2017, and import turnovers of 236.7 billion U.S. dollars, up 11.1 percent, with a trade surplus of 6.8 billion U.S. dollars.
