In the period, 12 items got the import value over $ 1 billion, accounted for nearly 70 per cent of the country’s total import value. The imports of computers, electronics and components; petroleum of all kinds; ordinary metals; telephones and components saw sharp increase.

Computers, electronics and components: Vietnam spent over $ 3.7 billion for imports of computers, electronic products and components in March of 2018 and $10.42 billion in the first quarter 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 quarter of this year were South Korea with $ 4.66 billion, up by 52.8 per cent year – on – year; and China - $ 1.55 billion, up by 4.5 per cent.

Machines, equipment, tools and spare parts: : The country imported $ 2.72 billion worth of machines, equipment, tools and spare parts in March and $ 4.87 billion in the first quarter 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 quarter of this year were China with $ 2.53 billion, up by 0.6 per cent year – on – year; South Korea –  $ 1.45 billion, down by 27.2 per cent; and from Japan - $ 1.05 billion, up by 2.6 per cent over the same period of 2017.

Telephones and components: Vietnam imported over $ 981 million worth of telephones and components in March and $ 3.32 billion in the first quarter of this year, up by 13.1 per cent compared with the same period of 2017.

The main import markets of telephones and components in the period were China with $ 1.96 billion, up by 21.7 per cent year – on – year; and South Korea - $ 1.2 billion, up by 16.3 per cent year – on - year.

Fabrics of all kinds: Vietnam’s imports of fabrics of all kinds reached $ 893 million in March and $ 2.66 billion in the first quarter of this year, increased by 13.7 per cent over the same period of 2017.

The major import markets of fabrics of all kinds in the first quarter of this year were China with $ 1.39 billion, up by 16 per cent; South Korea - $ 492 million, up by 11.2 per cent; and Taiwan - $ 372 million, up by 5 per cent.

Iron and steel of all kinds: The country imported 1.05 million tons of iron and steel of all kinds worth of $ 745,000 in March and 3.12 million tons worth of $ 2.18 billion in the first quarter of this year, down by 25.4 per cent in quantity and by 6.9 per cent in value year – on - year.

In the first quarter of this year, the country imported 1.12 million tons of iron and steel of all kinds worth of $ 830 million from China, down by 18.2 per cent in quantity and 28.6 per cent in value over the same period last year; from Japan – 538,000 tons worth of $ 367 million, down by 0.5 per cent in quantity and up by 15.2 per cent in value; and from South Korea – 428,000 tons worth of $ 345 million, up by 3.2 per cent in quantity and 17.8 per cent in value.

Petroleum of all kinds: The imports of petroleum of all kinds totaled 1.23 million tons worth of $ 784 million in March, up by 16.9 per cent in quantity and 18.4 per cent in value over the previous month.

The figure brought the country’s total petroleum imports in the first quarter of this year to 3.38 million tons worth of $ 2.18 billion, up by 15.7 per cent in quantity and 36.3 per cent in value compared with the same period last year.

The country’s top import markets of petroleum of all kinds the first quarter of this year were Malaysia with 1.12 million tons worth of $ 628 million, up by 66.2 per cent in quantity and 100.6 per cent in value year – on – year; South Korea – 916,000 tons worth of $ 628 million, up by 27.1 per cent in quantity and 36.7 per cent in value; and Singapore – 704,000 tons worth of $ 421 million, down by 36.5 per cent in quantity and by 24.5 per cent in value.

Plastics: The imports of plastics totaled 487,000 worth of $ 791 million in March, up by 49.2 per cent in quantity and 53.2 per cent in value over the previous month. The figure brought the country’s total imports of plastics in the first quarter of this year to 1.31 million tons worth of $ 2.06 billion, up by 12.6 per cent in quantity and up by 20.9 per cent in value compared with the same period last year.

The country’s top import markets of plastics in the first quarter of this year were South Korea with 277,000 tons worth of $ 386 million, up by 2.4 per cent in quantity and 34.6 per cent in value year – on – year; the U.A.E – 278,000 tons worth of $ 274 million, up by 12.2 per cent in quantity and 15.3 per cent in value.

Ordinary metals: Vietnam imported 190,000 tons of ordinary metals worth of $ 680 million in March, up by 104.1 per cent in quantity and by 68.5 per cent in value compared with the previous month. The figure of the first quarter of this year was 454,000 tons worth of $ 1.68 billion, up by 18.6 per cent in quantity and by 31.2 per cent in value year – on – year.

The leading import markets of ordinary metals last year were South Korea with 77,000 tons worth of $ 233 million, down by 3 per cent in quantity and 10.1 per cent in value; China – 56,000 tons worth of $ 166 million, down by 37.9 per cent in quantity and 16.6 per cent in value.

Plastic products: The imports of plastic products reached $ 482 million in March and totaled $ 1.35 billion in the first quarter of this year, up by 15.1 per cent year – on - year.

The country’s top import markets of plastic products in the first quarter of this year were China with $ 474 million, up by 23 per cent year – on – year; South Korea – $ 416 million, up by 14.1 per cent; and Japan – $ 191 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 $ 491 million in March and $ 1.24 billion in the first quarter of this year, up by 13.7 per cent over the same period last year.

The major import markets of textile, garment, leather and footwear materials in the first quarter of this year were China with the import value of $ 457 million, down by 3 per cent; South Korea - $ 159 million, down by 7.7 per cent; Taiwan - $ 107 million, down by 10.5 per cent year – on – year.