Lao Cai (VNA) – Exports of severalkinds of farm produce to China via Lao Cai border gate (the northern borderprovince of Lao Cai) increased in the first quarter of this year despite theCOVID-19 pandemic, said deputy head of the border gate’s customs branch TranAnh Tu on April 1.

As of the end of Q1, export revenues of watermelonhit over 8.4 million USD, a year-on-year surge of 190 percent; while those ofmango stood at 7.4 million USD, up 11.5 times compared to the same period lastyear.

However, earnings from dragon fruit, cassavaand tapioca starch strongly declined in the reviewed period.

The export of machinery and industrial goodsthrough the border gate has almost stopped since the beginning of the year.

As a result, total exports-imports throughthe Lao Cai border gate in January-March stood at 242.8 million USD, a year-on-yeardecrease of 33.8 percent.

Of the figure, 119.6 million USD was fromexports, dropping 49 percent, while imports reached 123.2 million USD, down 6percent.

Statistics of the border gate’s customsbranch showed that as of the end of March, State budget collection at theborder gate was only 232.6 billion VND (9.85 million USD), equivalent to 68.5percent of the same period in 2019./.