Exports in July rose 7.2% from the previous month to $22.979 billion, while imports were up 17.7% at $22.936 billion, the Customs Department said in a statement.

Smartphones, garments and electronic home appliances were among the largest export earners in July. Key imports were electronics, machinery and fabrics, the department said.

 

In the first seven months of 2019, Vietnam's exports climbed 7.8% to $145.482 billion from a year earlier, while imports were up 8.6% at $143.779 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $1.7 billion.

The government's General Statistics Office late last month forecast July trade surplus at $200 million.