January exports up 50 pct

Exports rose by 50.5 percent year-on-year in January to $27.7 billion with triple-digit increases in shipments of smartphones and machinery.

The U.S. was the largest market, followed by China, the E.U., ASEAN, Japan, and South Korea, according to the General Statistics Office.

Six products saw exports exceed $1 billion, including smartphones (up nearly 115 percent), electronics and computers (up 50 percent), and machinery and equipment (up 115 percent).

Some agricultural products also achieved strong increases, including rubber (nearly 120 percent), cashew (52 percent) and pepper (42 percent).

Imports rose 41 percent to $26.4 billion, giving Vietnam a trade surplus of $1.3 billion, with China remaining the largest seller, followed by South Korea, ASEAN and Japan.

Last year exports had risen by 6.5 percent to $281.5 billion.