Vietnam reported a trade surplus of $2.53 billion in the first four months of the year, including $1.07 billion in April, according to the General Statistics Office.
The export-driven economy’s exports totaled $122.3 billion in the period, while the total import spending was $119.8 billion, up 16.4% and 15.7% year-on-year, respectively.
The trade surplus in the same period last year was $1.5 billion.
The U.S. remained Vietnam's largest export market at $35.7 billion. China was the biggest seller with $37.1 billion worth of goods. Trade surplus earned from the EU market was $10.4 billion, up 36.1%.
The period saw the consumer price index (CPI) up 2.1% year-on-year. This increase was 0.89 percentage points higher than in the same period last year, but lower than the increases in the January-April periods in 2017-2020. The core inflation was up 0.97%.
The GSO said increases in petrol price were the major factors pushing up CPI in the first four months. So far this year, the petrol price in Vietnam has surged 48.84% year-on-year, with gas rising 24.6%.
The price of materials for home upgrades increased by 8.51%, rice prices rose 0.98%, and restaurant service went up 3.17%.
On the contrary, the food price was down 0.94%, the price of processed meat down 4.48%, and education service costs reduced 3.93%.