Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam has obtained a trade surplus of US$1.3 billion in January, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade. 

Leather shoes are among key hard currency earners of Vietnam in January 2021.

The total import-export value for January hit US$54.1 billion, representing an increase of 45.7% compared to the same period of 2020, the ministry said.

Of the total, exports brought back US$27.7 billion, up 50.5%, while imports rose 41% to US$26.4 billion.

Six groups of commodities attaining an export turnover of over US$1 billion each include mobile phones and components (US$5.8 billion); electronics, computers and components (US$4 billion); machinery, equipment, tools and spare parts (US$3.2 billion).

They are followed by textiles and garments (US$2.6 billion); shoes (US$1.8 billion), and wood and wood products (US$1.3 billion).

The United States is Vietnam’s largest export market in the first month of the year with a turnover of US$7.5 billion, an increase of 57.4% over the same period last year. Comes next China with US$5.8 billion, the European Union US$2.8 billion and the ASEAN market US$2.3 billion.

China remains Vietnam’s largest import market with a turnover of US$9.6 billion, up 72.7% over the same period last year. It is followed by the Republic of Korea (US$5.1 billion), and the ASEAN market (US$3.4 billion).