In the period, 5 items got the import value over $ 1 billion, accounted for 58.3 per cent of the country’s total import value.

Computers, electronics and components: Vietnam spent over $ 3.03 billion for import of computers, electronic products and components in February of 2018 and $ 6.73 billion in the first two months of 2018, up by 41.1 per cent compared with the same period of 2017.
The major import markets of computers, electronic products and components in the first two months of this year were South Korea with $ 2.94 billion, up by 72.5 per cent year – on – year; China - $ 1.06 billion, up by 9.2 per cent.

Machines, equipment, tools and spare parts: The country imported $ 1.97 billion worth of machines, equipment, tools and spare parts in February and $ 4.87 billion in the first two months of this year, up by 5.3 per cent year – on - year.
The main import markets of machines, equipment, tools and spare parts in the first two months of this year were China with $ 1.72 billion, up by 15.37 per cent year – on – year; South Korea – $ 941 million, down by 17 per cent; and Japan - $ 655 million, down by 2.9 per cent over the same period of 2017.

Telephones and components: Vietnam imported over $ 767 million worth of telephones and components in February and $ 2.34 billion in the first two months of this year, up by 30.9 per cent compared with the same period of 2017.
The main import markets of telephones and components in the period were China with $ 1.42 billion, up by 40.9 per cent year – on – year; and South Korea - $ 801 million, up by 37.5 per cent year – on - year.

Fabrics of all kinds: Vietnam’s imports of fabrics of all kinds reached $ 737 million in February and $ 1.8 billion in the first two months of this year, increased by 31.9 per cent over the same period of 2017.
The major import markets of fabrics of all kinds in the first two months of this year were China with $ 991 million, up by 47.9 per cent; South Korea - $ 320 million, up by 15.3 per cent; and Taiwan - $ 215 million, up by 8.8 per cent.

Iron and steel of all kinds: The country imported 1.09 million tons of iron and steel of all kinds worth of $ 632 million in February and 2.26 million tons worth of $ 1.44 billion in the first two months of this year, down by 16.4 per cent in quantity and by 2.2 per cent in value year – on - year.
In the first two months of this year, the country imported 723,000 tons of iron and steel of all kinds worth of $ 533 million from China, down by 52 per cent in quantity and 30.8 per cent in value over the same period last year; from South Korea – 311,000 tons worth of $ 246 million, up by 3.3 per cent in quantity and 22.5 per cent in value; and from Japan – 509,000 tons worth of $ 221 million, up by 55.3 per cent in quantity and 13.9 per cent in value.

Petroleum of all kinds: The imports of petroleum of all kinds totaled 1.05 million tons worth of $662 million in February, down by 17.8 per cent in quantity and 16.4 per cent in value over the same period last year.
The figure brought the country’s total petroleum imports in the first two months of this year to 2.21 million tons worth of $ 1.4 billion, up by 33 per cent in quantity and 48.9 per cent in value compared with the same period last year.
The country’s top import markets of petroleum of all kinds the first two months of this year were Malaysia with 863,000 tons worth of $ 461 million, up by 1.8 folds in quantity and 2.3 folds in value year – on – year; South Korea – 623,000 tons worth of $ 421 million, up by 41.7 per cent in quantity and 47.9 per cent in value; and Singapore – 389,000 tons worth of $ 235 million, down by 38.1 per cent in quantity and by 25.8 per cent in value.

Plastics: The imports of plastics totaled 3260 tons worth of $ 516llion in February, down by 34.3 per cent
in quantity and 31.8 per cent in value over the previous month. The figure brought the country’s total imports of plastics in the first two months of this year to 822,000 tons worth of $ 1.27 billion, up by 15.4 per cent in quantity and up by 23.3 per cent in value compared with the same period last year.
The country’s top import markets of plastics in the first two months of this year were South Korea with 153,000 tons worth of $ 255 million, up by 5.3 per cent in quantity and 13.7 per cent in value year – on – year; the U.A.E – 173,000 tons worth of $ 211 million, up by 23 per cent in quantity and 33.7 per cent in value.

Ordinary metals: Vietnam imported 93,000 tons of ordinary metals worth of $ 404 million in February, down by 27.3 per cent in quantity and by 20.8 per cent in value compared with the previous month. The figure of the first two months of this year was 221,000 tons worth of $ 913 million, down by 8.3 per cent in quantity but up by 15.8 per cent in value year – on – year.
The leading import markets of ordinary metals last year were South Korea with 49,000 tons worth of $ 145 million, down by 0.1 per cent in quantity and 11.5 per cent in value; China – 33,000 tons worth of $ 99 million, down by 46.9 per cent in quantity and 25.6 per cent in value.

Plastic products: The imports of plastic products reached $ 361 million in February and totaled $ 872 million in the first two months of this year, up by 23.7 per cent year – on - year.
The country’s top import markets of plastic products in the first two months of this year were China with $ 307 million, up by 36 per cent year – on – year; South Korea – $ 280 million, up by 29.3 per cent; and Japan – $ 120 million, up by 9.8 per cent.

Textile, garment, leather and footwear materials: The country’s imports of textile, garment, leather and footwear materials reached $ 315 million in February and $ 751 million in the first two months of this year, up by 4.2 per cent over the same period last year.
The major import markets of textile, garment, leather and footwear materials in 2017 were China with the import value of $ 288 million, up by 8.1 per cent; South Korea - $ 103 million, down by 4.2 per cent; Taiwan - $ 59 million, down by 11.9 per cent year – on – year.

US$ 9.16 billion worth of goods imported from China
The bilateral trade exchange between Vietnam and China reached US$ 14.84 billion in the first two months of this year, showed the statistics figures of the General Department of Customs.
Of the figure, the country exported $ 5.67 billion worth of goods to; and imported $ 9.16 billion worth of goods from China, increased by 50.6 per cent and 20.4 per cent, respectively year – on – year. So in the first two months of this year, Vietnam got $ 3.49 billion of deficit in trade exchange with China.
Machines, equipment and spare parts; telephones and components; computers, electronics and components were the three import items in 1 billion club.
Machines, equipment and spare parts were leading in the list of items imported by the country from China in the first two months of this year with the import value of nearly $ 1.72 billion, up by 14.7 per cent year – on – year. It was followed by telephones and components with $ 1.42 billion, up by 40.6 per cent; and then computers, electronics and components - $ 1.05 billion, up by 7 per cent.
In the first two months of this year, Vietnam’s imports of cameras, camcorders and components from China increased sharply by 178.7 per cent to $ 134.35 million.

Meanwhile, the imports of petroleum from China also increased by 110.6 per cent year – on – year in the first two months of this year to $ 139.37 million; household appliances – up by 94.9 per cent to $ 82.91 million; coal – up by 80.8 per cent to $ 34.59 million; animal feed and materials – up b 78.9 per cent to $ 37.05 million; cotton – up by 77.8 per cent to $ 0.21 million.
However, the imports of CBU autos from China in the first two months of this year fell sharply by 85.8 per cent to $ 2.44 million; tobacco materials – down by 49.4 per cent to $ 8.42 million; fertilizer – down by 44.5 per cent to $ 41.43 million; pharmaceuticals – down by 43.5 per cent to $ 5.08 million.

Imports from Germany totaled nearly US$ 488 million
Vietnam imported $ 487.2 million worth of goods from Germany in the first two months of this year, increased by 14.69 per cent over the same period last year, showed the statistics figures of the General Department of Customs.
Machines, equipment and spare parts were leading the list of items imported by the country from Germany in the period with $ 246.8 million, up by 44.53 per cent year – on – year.
It was followed by pharmaceuticals and chemical products with $ 35.1 million and $ 21.6 million, down by 31.61 per cent and 4.71 per cent, respectively over the same period last year.

Besides, the country also imported wood and furniture; means of transport from Germany.
Especially, in the first two months of this year, Vietnam’s imports of electric wires and cables from Germany increased sharply by 2 folds compared with the same period last year to $ 2.4 million.
Vietnam became second biggest export market of South Korea
According to Korea International Trade Association (KITA), Vietnam may surpass the U.S and become the second biggest export market of South Korea in 2020 thanks to Vietnam – South Korea free trade agreement (FTA).
Last year, Vietnam surpassed Hong Kong (China) and became the third biggest export market of South Korea, after China and the U.S.
According to KITA, the bilateral trade exchange between Vietnam and South Korea is expected to reach $ 100 billion in 2020.

In the first two months of this year, South Korea exported $ 7.5 billion worth of goods to Vietnam, increased by 28.1 per cent over the same period of 2017.
Computers, electronics and components were leading the list of items imported by Vietnam from South Korea in the period with $ 2.9 million, up by 72.47 per cent year – on – year and accounted for 39.1 per cent of the total.

It was followed by machines, equipment and spare parts with $ 941 million, down by 16.99 per cent; and then telephones and components with $ 801.4 million, up by 36.66 per cent.
In the first two months of this year, Vietnam’s imports of pharmaceutical materials increased sharply by 3 folds to $ 1.3 million; while the imports of liquefied gas – up by 105.13 per cent; cameras, camcorders and components – up by 164.68 per cent.
Meanwhile, the imports of CBU autos and spare parts to South Korea decreased by 96.64 per cent; auto components and spare parts – down by 51.93 per cent; and fertilizer – down by 61.69 per cent.
CK
Source: VITIC/baohaiquan.vn