Steel production at Thai Nguyen Iron and Steel Corporation. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnamexported 3.44 million tonnes of steel and iron worth 2.24 billion USDin the first half of this year, up 21 percent in volume and 4 percent in value fromthe same period last year.
The country mainly shipped steel andiron to the markets of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), theUnited States (US) and the European Union (EU).
In the ASEAN bloc, Cambodia was thelargest importer of Vietnamese steel and iron during the January-June periodwith 882,000 tonnes, valued at 527.7 million USD, 48.2 percent higher in volumeand 37.5 percent higher in value from the first half of last year.
It was followed by Indonesia with366,000 tonnes worth 245.3 million USD and Malaysia with 373,700 tonnesworth 230.7 million USD.
Vietnam recorded significant growthin exports to China, Brazil, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and thePhilippines.
In contrast, the nation’s steel andiron exports to two other major outlets – the US and the EU – saw strongdeclines in both volume and value, the department noted.
About 285,000 tonnes of steel andiron were exported to the US, earning the country 223.2 million USD,representing a reduction of 35 percent in volume and 41 percent in value.
Exports to the EU, meanwhile,dropped 30 percent in volume and 41 percent in value to 204,000 tonnes and137 million USD.
Statistics from the departmentrevealed that Vietnam also spent 4.82 billion USD importing 7.15million tonnes of steel and iron in the first half of the year, up 4 percent involume but down 2 percent in value compared to the same period last year.
The country's major providers ofsteel and iron were mainland China, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Taiwan andASEAN nations.-VNA
VNA
