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| Containers of goods at Tan Vu Port, Hai Phong city__Photo: VNA |
Total export and import turnover reached USD 249.5 billion during the first quarter of 2026, up 23 per cent from a year earlier, the National Statistics Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Finance reported on April 4.
The sum consists of USD 122.93 billion in exports and 126.57 in imports, respectively increasing 19.1 per cent and 27 per cent. That resulted in a trade deficit of 3.64 billion USD, compared to a surplus of USD 3.57 billion recorded in the same period last year.
During the first three months, domestic enterprises posted USD 24.47 billion in exports, falling 16.6 per cent and accounting for 19.9 per cent of total overseas shipments, while foreign-invested firms reported USD 98.46 billion (including crude oil), up 33.3 per cent and making up 80.1 per cent.
Twenty product categories achieved export revenue of over USD 1 billion each, accounting for 86.8 per cent of the total exports. Among them, five surpassed USD 5 billion, accounting for 62.4 per cent.
Processed industrial goods raked in USD 110.52 billion, equivalent to 89.9 per cent of the total; agricultural and forestry products USD 9.34 billion, 7.6 per cent; aquatic products USD 2.64 billion, 2.2 per cent; and fuel and mineral products USD 0.43 billion, 0.3 per cent.
In Q1, 22 imported items reached a value exceeding USD 1 billion each, making up 82.8 per cent of total import turnover (with two items worth more than USD 5 billion each, accounting for 49.8 per cent).
Regarding the structure of imports, production materials were valued at USD 118.84 billion, representing 93.9 per cent. Among them, machinery, equipment, tools and spare parts accounted for 55.3 per cent; raw materials and fuels 38.6 per cent; and consumer goods 6.1 per cent.
Domestic businesses imported USD 35.2 billion worth of goods during the first three months, down 4.3 per cent, while foreign-invested companies USD 91.37 billion, up 45.3 per cent.
In March alone, exports and imports totalled USD 93.55 billion, increasing 39.2 per cent from the previous month and 23.9 per cent from the same period last year.
Last month’s overseas shipments reached USD 46.44 billion, climbing 40.3 per cent month on month. Of this, domestic firms recorded USD 8.96 billion, up 39.2 per cent from February, and the foreign-invested sector USD 37.48 billion (including crude oil), up 40.6 per cent.
Compared to the same period last year, the export value in March went up 20.1 per cent, with that of the domestic sector decreasing 20.1 per cent and the foreign-invested one (including crude oil) rising 36.5 per cent.
Meanwhile, imports last month were estimated at USD 47.11 billion, a month-on-month increase of 38.2 per cent. That led to a trade deficit of USD 0.67 billion in March, statistics show.- (VNA/VLLF)
