Hanoi(VNA) – Total import-export revenue in the first two months of this year isestimated at 96.06 billion USD, down 13.2% year on year, with a trade surplusof 2.82 billion USD, reported the General Statistics Office (GSO).

According to theoffice, so far this year, the country has exported 49.44 billion USD worth ofgoods, down 10.4% over the same period last year, with 37.92 billion USD comingfrom the foreign-invested sector, accounting for 76.7%.

In February alone,total export revenue is estimated at 25.88 billion USD, up 9% over January and11% year on year.

In the first twomonths of 2023, eight kinds of products recorded exports of over 1 billion USD,accounting for more than 69.9% of the total. Particularly, three enjoying revenueof over 5 billion USD.

The manufacturing-processing sector contributed 44.38 billion USD to the country’stotal export revenue, accounting for 89.8%, while agro-forestry sector made up6.9%, fisheries 2% and fuel and minerals 1.3%.

In January and February, the country spent 46.62 billion USD on importinggoods, down 16% year on year, mostly on production materials. In February, thefigure dropped 6.7% over the same period last year to 23.58 billion USD.

In the first twomonths of this year, imports of 13 groups of goods exceeded 1 billion USD, withtwo recording exports of more than 5 billion USD.

So far this year, theUS has remained the largest export market of Vietnam with a revenue of 13.1 billionUSD, while China has been the biggest import market with a value of about 14.6billion USD.

In theJanuary-February period, Vietnam’s trade surplus with the EU is estimated at4.8 billion USD, up 1.8%. Meanwhile, the country has suffered a trade deficitof 6.4 billion USD with China, 4.7 billion USD with the Republic of Korea, 1.5billion USD with ASEAN countries, and 237.2 million USD with Japan.

To meet the target of about 6% growth in export revenue this year, the Ministry of Industryand Trade has asked businesses to actively improve the competitiveness of theirproducts, while expanding their export markets.

The ministry willstrengthen the exploitation of potential markets nearby, while switching to official export channels in association with the building of trademark. Theministry will also renovate its trade promotion activities and develop digitalinfrastructure to increase distributions though e-commerce platforms.

Besides, the ministrywill organise training courses for businesses and supporting them to make fulluse of free trade agreements./.