Vietnam posts trade surplus of US$801 million

Vietnam said it recorded a trade surplus of US$801 million 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 non-essential imports while slower economic growth reduced demand for foreign goods. From January to April, imports declined 41% from a year earlier to US while exports totaled US$18.6 billion, a decrease of 0.1%, the country’s General Statistics Office (GSO) said in a statement. 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 (April 24, 2009)