Two-way trade between the US and Vietnam in the first quarter of 2011 reached 4,743.7 million USD, an increase of 779.5 million USD or 19,6 percent over the same period last year.

According to data released by the US Department of Commerce on May 11, from January to March this year, the US imported from Vietnam 3,693.5 million USD worth of goods, an increase of 560.8 million USD or 18 percent over the same period last year.

The DoC's data showed that among Vietnam 's exports to the US in the January - March period, articles of apparel and clothing accessories retained the first ranking with export value of 1,478.3 million USD, 14 percent higher than Q1 of 2010.

Remaining in the second place was footwear with export value of 456.4 million USD, an increase of 32.3 percent. It was followed by furniture with export value of 395.6 million USD, up 3 percent; and electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof with value reaching 194.4 million USD, up 22.4 percent.

Coming next was fish and aquatic invertebrates with export value standing at 153.3 million USD, an increase of 5 percent over the corresponding period of 2010.

Also in the reviewed period, the US exported goods at a total value of 1,050.2 million USD, up 26.3 percent from the first quarter of 2010.

Cotton, including yarns and woven fabrics thereof, topped US exports to Vietnam in the January - March period with value of 150.8 million USD, up 286 percent over the same period last year.

Ranked second in export value by the US to Vietnam in Q1 of 2011 was machinery and mechanical appliances, parts thereof with value reaching 109.6 million USD, an increase of 17.6 percent over the corresponding period of 2010.

It was followed by vehicles (with value of 80.8 million USD, up 40.5 percent). Imports of electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof recorded a high increase in value, reaching 79.8 million USD, and a growth rate of 202 percent.

Vietnam's imports of iron and steel as well as plastics and articles thereof was valued at more than 54 million USD each, increasing by about 80 percent over the first quarter of 2010./.