Socialist Republic of Vietnam

VNA: HANOI, June 28 - Viet Nam's export turnover in the first six months of this year reached nearly US$ 5 billion, representing 50 percent of the yearly plan and a year-on-year increase of 7.7 percent.

Exports with remarkable increases included crude oil, 29.4 percent (5.48 million tonnes); footwear, 28 percent (US$ 670 million); textile and garment, 12 percent (nearly US$ 700 million); coffee, 10.2 percent (217,000 tonnes) and aquatic products, 10 percent (US$ 400 million). As many as 450,000 tonnes of rice were shipped abroad in June, bringing the country's total exported rice in the first half of 1999 to 2.4 million tonnes. The growing export value of rice was attributed to the bumper winter-spring crop.

However, some exports saw decreases in export turnovers with cashew nut, 36 percent; groundnut, 29.5 percent; and coal, 7 percent. Exports by foreign-invested enterprises rose 9 percent in the first six months with the value reaching US$ 1.076 billion. In the meantime, the country's import turnover reached US$ 5.23 billion, which was equal to 88 percent of the same period last year. Import of steel ingot, clinke, and automobile saw strong decreases while imported automobile spare parts, material plastics and yarn increase. Therefore, the country's trade deficit was US$ 232 million.