Of the figure, Vietnam exported $8.87 billion worth of goods to and imported $8.88 billion worth of goods from Japan, increased by 10.5 per cent and 14.2 per cent, respectively year – on – year.

Textiles and garments were leading the list of items exported by the country to Japan in the first six months of this year with the export turnover of $1.7 billion, up by 2.83 per cent over the same period last year and accounted for 19.1 per cent of the total. It was followed by means of transport and spare parts with $1.17 billion, up by 15.1 per cent; and then machines, equipment and spare parts with $882.6 million, up by 6 per cent; seafood - $615.07 million, up by over 4.7 per cent; wood and furniture - $528.07 million, up by 5 per cent year – on – year.

 

In the first six months of this year, Vietnam’s exports of iron and steel to Japan rocketed by 350.8per cent to $33.08 million; plastics – up by 244.2 per cent to $17.84 million; ores and minerals – up by 40.5 per cent to $6.78 million; cashew nuts – up by 34.8 per cent to $16.55 million.

However, the exports of crude oil to Japan decreased by 43.6 per cent to $124.58 million; while the exports of pepper, cassava, rubber and fertilizer also decreased by 27 per cent; 22.8 per cent; 22.1 per cent and 10.1 per cent, respectively year – on –year.

Vietnam’s exports of goods to Japan in the first six months of 2018 - Unit: US$ - source: VITIC – according to the figures of the General Department of Customs