Vietnam’s trade deficit with the South East Asian countries was estimated at $ 5.9 billion, down by 9.5 per cent compared with 2016.

Last year, Vietnam exported US$ 21.7 billion worth of goods to the South East Asian countries, increased by 10.4 per cent over 2016. The leading export markets of Vietnam in the South East Asian region were:

 - Thailand: In 2017, Vietnam’s total exports of goods to Thailand were estimated at $ 4.8 billion, up by 29 per cent over the year of 2016. The major items exported by the country to Thailand in 2017 were cell phones and accessories - $ 1.2 billion, up by 69 per cent; crude oil - $ 427 million, up by 170 per cent; fibers of all kinds - $ 91 million, up by 31 per cent; cashew nuts - $ 87 million, up by 42 per cent; iron and steel of all kinds - $ 158 million, up by 42 per cent; electric wires and cables - $ 42 million, up by 64 per cent.

In 2017, the country’s exports of textiles and garments to Thailand increased by 18 per cent to $ 102 million; machines, equipment and spare parts – up by 11 per cent to $ 331 million; computers, electronics and components - $ 483 million, up by 196 per cent; means of transport and spare parts – up by 3 per cent to $ 330 million; seafood – up by 2 per cent to $ 248 million; iron and steel products – up by 25 per cent to $ 163 million.

- Malaysia: Last year, Vietnam’s exports of goods to Malaysia were estimated at $ 42 million, up by 27 per cent over the same period of 2016.

In 2017, Vietnam’s exports of computers, electronics and components to Malaysia were estimated at $ 1.17 billion, up by 36 per cent over the year of 2016; cell phones and accessories - $ 609 million, up by 37 per cent; crude oil - $ 228 million, up by 20 per cent; iron and steel of all kinds - $ 235 million, up by 105 per cent; machines, equipment and spare parts - $ 195 million, up by 37 per cent; glass and products - $ 194 million, up by 21 per cent; coal – $ 42.1 million, up by 54 per cent.

Especially, the country’s exports of rice to Malaysia increased sharply by 84 per cent to $ 216 million.

- Singapore: Last year, Vietnam’s exports of goods to Singapore were estimated at $ 3 billion, up by 17.7 per cent year – on – year.

The country’s exports of computers, electronics and components to Singapore increased by 29 per cent to $ 520 million; means of transport and spare parts – up by 84 per cent to $ 235 million; crude oil – up by 198 per cent to $ 236 million; petroleum of all kinds – up by 105 per cent to $ 106 million.

- Philippines: In 2017, Vietnam’s exports of goods to the Philippines were estimated at $ 2.8 billion, up by 27.9 per cent.

Last year, Vietnam’s exports of rice to the Philippines increased sharply by 31.5 per cent to $ 219.8 million; cell phones and accessories – up by 108 per cent to $ 445.7 million; machines, equipment and spare parts – up by 28.8 per cent to $ 285 million; clinker and cement – up by 10.4 per cent to $ 203.4 million.

- Indonesia: In 2017, Vietnam’s exports of goods to Indonesia were estimated at $ 2.9 billion, up by 9.2 per cent compared with 2016. The leading items exported to Indonesia last year were: iron and steel of all kinds – up by 32.1 per cent to $ 434.2 million; machines, equipment and spare parts, - up by 16.1 per cent to $ 249.7 million; computers, electronics and components – up by 45 per cent to $ 221 million; textile, garment, leather and footwear materials – up by 17.5 per cent to $ 192.5 million; textiles and garments – up by 22.6 per cent to $ 139.2 million.

In 2017, Vietnam’s imports of goods from the South East Asian countries were estimated at $ 27.7 billion, up by 14.9 per cent compared with 2016. The leading import markets were:

- Indonesia: Last year, the country’s imports of goods from Indonesia reached $ 3.6 billion, up by 20.9 per cent compared with 2016. The exports of coal to Indonesia increased sharply by 153.5 per cent to $ 378.7 million; chemicals – up by 33.1 per cent to $ 203 million; other ordinary metals – up by 24.6 per cent to $ 263.4 million; CBU autos– up by 609.6 per cent to $ 318.6 million.

- Thailand: Last year, Vietnam’s imports of goods from Thailand were estimated at $ 10.3 billion, up by 16.3 per cent compared with 2016. The country’s imports of machines, equipment and spare parts from Thailand increased by 16.2 per cent to $ 944 million; petroleum of all kinds – up by 40 per cent to $ 910 million; fruits and vegetables – up by 111 per cent to $ 866 million; plastics – up by 18.7 per cent to $ 639 million; computers, electronics and components – up by 56 per cent to $ 621 million; chemicals – up by 45 per cent to $ 372 million. However, the imports of household electric appliances were down by 5.3 per cent to $ 899 million; CBU autos – down by 6.1 per cent to $ 606 million; and auto components and spare parts – down by 24.4 per cent to $ 510 million.

- Malaysia: In 2017, Vietnam’s imports of goods from Malaysia were estimated at $ 5.7 billion, up by 10 per cent compared with 2016.

Last year, the country’s imports of petroleum from Malaysia were estimated at $ 1.18 billion, down by 3 per cent compared with 2016; computers, electronics and components – up by 14 per cent to $ 1.1 billion; machines, equipment and spare parts – up by 50 per cent to $ 643 million; oil and grease – up by 11 per cent to $ 471 million.

Vietnam’s trade deficit with Malaysia was estimated at $ 1.4 billion last year, down by 21.1 per cent year – on – year.

- Singapore: In 2017, Vietnam imported $ 5.3 billion worth of goods from Singapore, up by 11.5 per cent compared with 2016.

The major items imported by the country from Singapore were petroleum of all kinds - $ 2.2 billion, up by 37.2 per cent; oil products - $ 241 million, up by 14 per cent; chemicals - $ 203 million, up by 30 per cent; plastics - $ 293 million, up by 16 per cent; hygiene products - $ 220 million, up by 22 per cent.

- Cambodia: Last year, the country’s imports of goods from Cambodia reached over $ 1 billion, up by 41.4 per cent compared with 2016. The imports of wood and furniture from Cambodia increased by 18.6 per cent to $ 216.7 million; cashew nuts – up by 60.4 per cent to $ 183.8 million; and rubber – up by 57.5 per cent to $ 131.5 million.