Of the figure, the country imported $22.63 billion worth of goods from; and exported $8.72 billion worth of goods to South Korea.

So in the first six months of this year, Vietnam got $13.91 billion of deficit in trade exchange with South Korea, down by 13.4 per cent year – on – year. 

Computers, electronics and components were the leading item imported by Vietnam from South Korea in the first six months of this year with the import value of $8.49 billion, accounted for 37.5 per cent of the total imports from South Korea and increased by 40.5 per cent compared with the same period last year.

Machines, equipment and spare parts ranked second with $3.11 billion, down by 49.7 per cent; and then telephones and components – over $ 2 billion, down by 12.7 per cent; petroleum - $ 1.32 billion, up by 51 per cent; and fabrics - $1.09 billion, up by 10.5 per cent.

In the first six months of this year, the country’s imports of almost all items from South Korea saw growth. The imports of gas increased sharply by 211.8 per cent to $3.17 million; cameras, camcorders and components – up by 145.5 per cent to $260.3 million; fruits and vegetables – up by 106.6 per cent to $12.17 million; cotton – up by 95 per cent to $3.37 million; seafood – up by 90.7 per cent to $41.56 million; ores and minerals – up by 86 per cent to $7.89 million.

However, the imports of CBU cars were down by 92.6 per cent to $6.92 million; means of transport and spare parts – down by 47.8 per cent to $18.58 million; fertilizer – down by 36.8 per cent to $26.66 million.

Vietnam’s imports of goods from South Korea in the first six months of 2018 - Unit: US$ - source: VITIC – according to the figures of the General Department of Customs