In the first quarter of this year, Vietnam exported US$ 3.8 billion worth of goods to Japan, up by 17 per cent over the same quarter of 2016, showed the statistics figures of the General Department of Customs.

Japan is the third biggest export markets of Vietnam after China and the U.S.

The major commodities exported by the country to Japan in the first quarter of this year were textiles and garments with $ 715 million, up by 11.7 per cent year – on – year; means of transport and spare parts - $ 505.2 million, up by 13 per cent; machines, equipment and spare parts - $ 402.2 million, up by 15 per cent; wood and furniture - $ 256.9 million, up by 6.6 per cent; and seafood - $ 252.9 million, up by 29.5 per cent.

In the first quarter of this year, the country’s exports of crude oil to Japan increased sharply by 412.8 per cent; coal – up by 2,42 per cent to $ 26.9 million; iron and steel – up by 138 per cent to $ 3.1 million; cell phones and accessories – up by 149 per cent to $ 78 million.

However, the country’s exports of cassava and products; animal feed and materials; and pepper to Japan decreased sharply by 90 per cent; 37 per cent and 34 per cent, respectively.