HANOI - VIETNAM said on Friday it recorded a trade surplus of US$801 million (S$1.75 billion )in the first four months of the year, as imports fell faster than exports.
Last year, the country's trade deficit swelled to US$17 billion but the government clamped down on nonessential imports while slower economic growth reduced demand for foreign goods.
From January to April, imports declined 41 per cent from a year earlier to US$17.8 billion while exports totaled US$18.6 billion, a decrease of 0.1 per cent, the General Statistics Office said in a statement.
The GSO often issues trade data ahead of the month's end based on estimates.
Vietnam's main exports were precious stones and gold, crude oil, garments, seafood and rice while its biggest imports were machinery, refined gasoline, textile and construction steel.
The government has said it aims to keep the trade gap for the whole year at US$19 billion. -- AP
