Exports of several kinds of farm produce to China via Lao Cai border gate (the northern border province of Lao Cai) increased in the first quarter of this year despite the COVID-19 pandemic, said deputy head of the border gate’s customs branch Tran Anh Tu on April 1.

Container trucks go through Kim Thanh border gate no. 2 in Lao Cai
(Photo: VNA)

As of the end of Q1, export revenues of watermelon hit over US$8.4 million, a year-on-year surge of 190%; while those of mango stood at US$7.4 million, up 11.5 times compared to the same period last year.

However, earnings from dragon fruit, cassava and tapioca starch strongly declined in the reviewed period.

The export of machinery and industrial goods through the border gate has almost stopped since the beginning of the year.

As a result, total exports-imports through the Lao Cai border gate in January-March stood at US$242.8 million, a year-on-year decrease of 33.8%.

Of the figure, US$119.6 million was from exports, dropping 49%, while imports reached US$123.2 million, down 6%.

Statistics of the border gate’s customs branch showed that as of the end of March, State budget collection at the border gate was only VND232.6 billion (US$9.85 million), equivalent to 68.5% of the same period in 2019.