Vietnam's export rises 7.8 pct in 11 months

     HANOI, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam made export turnovers of more than 241.4 billion U.S. dollars in the first 11 months of this year, up 7.8 percent against the same period last year, while seeing import turnovers of over 232.3 billion U.S. dollars, up 7.4 percent, the country's General Statistics Office said on Monday.

     Specifically, Vietnam earned 48.7 billion U.S. dollars from exporting phones and components, up 5.4 percent; reaping 32.4 billion U.S. dollars from electronic goods, computers and components, up 19.4 percent; and 16.5 billion U.S. dollars from footwear, up 12.5 percent.

    Between January and November, the United States remained Vietnam's biggest importer with turnovers of 55.6 billion U.S. dollars, tailed by the European Union with 38 billion U.S. dollars and China with 37.4 billion U.S. dollars, according to the office.

    In the same period, Vietnam spent 47.3 billion U.S. dollars on importing electronic goods, computers and components, up 20.2 percent; 33.2 billion U.S. dollars on machines, equipment and spare parts, up 11 percent; and 12.2 billion U.S. dollars on cloth, up 4.2 percent.

    Meanwhile, China was Vietnam's largest exporter with turnovers of 68.7 billion U.S. dollars, up 15.2 percent, followed by South Korea with 43.6 billion U.S. dollars, unchanged from the same period last year, and the ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) with 29.6 billion U.S. dollars, up 1.7 percent, the office said.

    In 2018, Vietnam reaped export turnovers of over 243.5 billion U.S. dollars, up 13.2 percent against 2017, and import turnovers of 236.7 billion U.S. dollars, up 11.1 percent, posting a trade surplus of 6.8 billion U.S. dollars.