HANOI: Vietnam posted US$32 billion in trade value with China in the first half of 2015, posting the largest amount among the country’s trading partners, Vietnam’s General Statistics Office said here the other day.
During the six-month period, China remained the biggest supplier of commodities for Vietnam with some US$24.4 billion, up 23.9 percent year on year, the GSO said on its website in the June monthly report.
Meanwhile, Vietnam exported some US$7.7 billion worth of products to China in the period, up 3.6 percent year on year, said the GSO.
Vietnam mainly exports farm products to China while importing fruits and vegetables, fertilizers, machinery, phones and accessories, steel and materials for the garment and textile industry, among others.
In the first half, Vietnam earned US$77.7 billion from exports to foreign markets, said the GSO, adding that the country spent US$81.5 billion on imports.
China remained Vietnam’s largest consumer for its exports of major agri-forestry-fishery products.
According to a report released by Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the country in the first half earned US$1.32 billion from exporting 3.055 million tons of rice, down 10.5 percent in value and 6.2 percent in volume year on year.
China remained the largest importer of Vietnamese rice in the six-month period, taking up 36 percent of market. However, during the period, Vietnam’s rice exports to China fell 19.6 percent in volume and 22.6 percent in value year on year, the ministry said.
In the first half, Vietnam exported 422,000 tons of rubber worth US$614 million, up 22.3 percent in volume and down 5.1 percent in value year on year.
China, Malaysia and India remained the three largest consumers of Vietnamese rubber, taking up 72.3 percent of the market.