Vietnam Jan-Sept trade deficit hits $15.8b
Thursday, 25 September 2008
HANOI, Sept 24 (AFP): Vietnam's trade deficit reached an estimated 15.8 billion dollars for the first nine months of the year, according to official figures released today.
Imports between January and September reached 64.4 billion dollars, up 48.3 per cent year-on-year, while exports grew 39 per cent to 48.6 billion dollars, the general statistics office (GSO) said.
The revised trade deficit for January-August stood at 15.3 billion dollars, against 16 billion dollars in a previous estimation.
The communist-ruled country reported a rise in imports of machinery and equipment for production of 35.4 per cent, totalling 10.5 billion dollars.
Vietnam spent 9.7 billion dollars on refined oil and petroleum products, up by 82.9 per cent amid sharply higher world oil prices.
Automobile imports were worth 1.97 billion dollars, a rise of 120.4 per cent.
Fertiliser and steel imports also increased sharply, by 100.9 per cent and 68.1 per cent respectively.
Vietnam earned revenues mostly from the sales of crude oil, which brought back 8.8 billion dollars, an increase of 52 per cent, and textiles exports worth 6.8 billion dollars, up by 20.2 per cent.
Imports between January and September reached 64.4 billion dollars, up 48.3 per cent year-on-year, while exports grew 39 per cent to 48.6 billion dollars, the general statistics office (GSO) said.
The revised trade deficit for January-August stood at 15.3 billion dollars, against 16 billion dollars in a previous estimation.
The communist-ruled country reported a rise in imports of machinery and equipment for production of 35.4 per cent, totalling 10.5 billion dollars.
Vietnam spent 9.7 billion dollars on refined oil and petroleum products, up by 82.9 per cent amid sharply higher world oil prices.
Automobile imports were worth 1.97 billion dollars, a rise of 120.4 per cent.
Fertiliser and steel imports also increased sharply, by 100.9 per cent and 68.1 per cent respectively.
Vietnam earned revenues mostly from the sales of crude oil, which brought back 8.8 billion dollars, an increase of 52 per cent, and textiles exports worth 6.8 billion dollars, up by 20.2 per cent.