The imports of the top ten items totaled over $ 30 billion in the period, equivalent to 65 per cent of the country’s total import value.

The leading items imported in the first quarter of this year were:

Machines, equipment, tools and spare parts: : The country imported $ 3.26 billion worth of machines, equipment, tools and spare parts in March and $ 8.07 billion in the first 3 months of this year. The figures were up by 35.9 per cent in quantity and by $ 2.13 billion in value year – on - year. The main import markets of machines, equipment, tools and spare parts in the first 5 months of this year were China with $ 2.53 billion, up by 34 per cent year – on – year; South Korea –  $ 2.33 billion, up by 104 per cent; Japan - $ 1.05 billion, up by 10.7 per cent over the same period of 2016.

Computers, electronic products and components: Vietnam spent $ 2.99 billion for imports of computers, electronic products and components in March and $ 7.6 billion in the first 3 months of this year, up by 16.6 per cent compared with the same months of 2016.The major import markets of computers, electronic products and components in the period were South Korea with $ 2.69 billion, up by 27.9 per cent year – on – year; China - $ 1.58 billion, up by 28.5 per cent; and Taiwan - $773 million, up by 7.9 per cent.

Cell phones and accessories: Vietnam imported over $ 1.14 billion worth of cell phones and accessories in March and $ 2.93 billion in the first 3 months of this year, up by 22.6 per cent compared with the same months of 2016. The main import markets of cell phones and accessories in the period were China with $ 1.61 billion, up by 7.5 per cent year – on – year; and South Korea - nearly $ 1.03 billion, up by 33.4 per cent.

Iron and steel of all kinds: The country imported 1.91 million tons of iron and steel of all kinds worth of $ 873 million in March and 4.63 million tons worth of $ 2.36 billion in the first 3 months of this year, up by 1.1 per cent in quantity and 41.6 per cent in value year – on - year. In the first 5 months of this year, the country imported 2.21 million tons of iron and steel of all kinds worth of nearly $ 1.18 billion from China, down by 10.8 per cent in quantity and 40.7 per cent in value over the same period last year. The imports of those items from Japan reached 529,000 tons worth of $ 315 million; from South Korea – 417,000 tons worth of $ 293 million; from India – 439,000 tons worth of $ 227 million.   

Cashew nuts: The country imported 76,100 tons of cashew nuts in March and 176,000 tons worth of $ 363 million in the first three months of this year in the first three months of this year, increased sharply by 64.4 per cent in quantity and 115.3 per cent in value over the same period of 2016.

CBU automobile: Vietnam imported 11,000 CBU automobile worth of $ 180 million in March, up by 39.3 per cent in quantity and 13.9 per cent in value over the previous month. The figure brought the country’s total import of CBU automobile in the first 3 months of this year to 26,500 units worth of $ 488 million, up by 34.4 per cent in quantity and 1 per cent in value year – on – year. ASEAN was the country’s biggest CBU automobile import market of Vietnam in the first 3 months of this year with 14,460 units, up by 67.6 per cent over the same period of 2016.

Coal: Vietnam imported nearly 2 million tons of coal worth of $ 217 million in March, up by 76.9 per cent in quantity and 47.8 per cent in value over the same period last year. In the first quarter of this year, the country imported 3.61 million tons worth of $ 410 million, up by 4.6 per cent in quantity and 95.8 per cent in value year – on – year. The major imports markets of coal in the first three months of this year were Russia with 1.26 million tons, up by 14.5 per cent; and Indonesia – 1.07 million tons, up by 132 per cent.

Petroleum of all kinds: The import of petroleum of all kinds totaled 1.3 million tons worth of $ 662 million in March and 2.95 million tons worth of nearly $ 1.59 billion in the first 3 months of this year, up by 7.2 per cent in quantity and 74.6 per cent in value over the same period last year.