Vietnam achieved a significant trade surplus in the period from January1 to February 15, according to figures from the General Department ofCustoms.
Vietnam enjoyed a trade surplus of nearly 1.4 billionUSD in the period, including a surplus of 774.6 million USD attained inJanuary, and 614.4 million USD in the first half of February.
This was a good sign, considering the trade deficit was 538.7 million USD during the same period in 2012.
The sharp increases in the country’s total exports, up to 29.1 percent,were the chief reasons behind the higher trade surplus Vietnam enjoyedin the period.
Foreign-invested enterprises scored a 33 percentgrowth in export turnover and domestic enterprises a 23.3 percentgrowth compared with the same period last year.
Productsattaining high growth rates in export turnover included pepper, cassavaand cassava products, hats and umbrellas, timber and wooden products,textiles and garments, steel, computers, electronics and components,telephones and components, and means of transport, and spare parts.
The textile and garment sector took the lead in export turnover withover 2.1 billion USD; followed by telephones and components with nearly1.95 billion USD, and electronics and components with export turnoverof nearly 1.1 billion USD.
Vietnam enjoyed a trade surplus with53 of its 89 major overseas markets, with a surplus of over 100 millionto each of 13 countries, including the US with over 1.6 billion USD;the UK with nearly 314 million USD; Japan with nearly 304 million USD;and Hong Kong of China with 215 million USD.
The high tradesurplus in the first half of the first quarter of 2013 will help createconditions for the country to increase its foreign currency reserves.-VNA