Of the total, Vietnam’s export earnings hit US$1.89 billion, up 24.3% year-on-year, and its imports fetched US$971.56 million, up 37.3%.
Key Vietnamese exports included crude oil, mobile handsets and components, seafood, cashew nuts, timber, garment and textiles, footwear, machinery, and equipment.
Crude oil topped the list of export items, bringing home US$989 million, a year-on-year increase of 44.1%. It was followed by mobile handsets and components (nearly US$184.75 million, up 21%), and fisheries (US$104.55 million, 36.5%).
Notably, gross exports from iron and steel to Australia saw the highest growth rate over the past six months, up 215.6% over the previous year.