In March only, the country spent $ 444.32 million on imports of chemicals, up by 56 per cent over the previous month and by 17.3 per cent over the same month of last year.

China was the country’s biggest chemical import market in the first three months of this year with the import value of $ 343.52 million, up by 21.7 per cent year – on – year.

It was followed by Taiwan - $ 152.8 million, up by 19.4 per cent; South Korea - $ 106.83 million, up by
34.3 per cent; Thailand - $ 100.82 million, up by 21.8 per cent.

In the first three months of this year, Vietnam’s imports of chemicals from Saudi Arabia increased sharply by 329.4 per cent compared with the same period last year to $ 6.15 million; from Russia – up by 314.5 per cent to $ 9.52 million; from Brunei – up by 154 per cent to $ 5.56 million; Switzerland – up by 127.4 per cent to $ 3.03 million; from Belgium – up by 81.2 per cent to $ 12.01 million.

However, the country’s imports of chemicals from Hong Kong, Spain, Britain, Indonesia and South Africa decreased by 55.7 per cent; 46 per cent; 33 per cent; 27.5 per cent and 20 per cent, respectively year – on – year.