Vietnam recorded a trade surplus of 1.8 billion USD with Japan in the first 11 months of this year, representing a year-on-year increase of 33 percent, reported the Vietnam Customs.

Textiles were exported more to Japan than other commodities, accounting for 18 percent of the country’s total exports to Japan and seizing the lead among Vietnam’s nine major export lines.

Vietnam mainly imported machines, equipment, tools and spare parts, computers, electronic devices and components from Japan. It also bought steel, steel products, materials for textile and footwear sectors and plastic products.

The import of these goods made up 73 percent of Vietnam’s total import turnover from Japan.

Japan traded with Vietnam over 24.6 billion USD in goods in 2012 and the figure is expected to rise to 25 billion USD in 2013.

The two countries signed a lot of significant documents like the agreements on Vietnam – Japan economic partnership, investment encouragement and protection, and double taxation avoidance.

They are working together in negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement.-VNA