The country spent an estimated US$20.82 billion on imports in the January-February period, presenting an increase of 17% year-on-year, Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Le Duong Quang reported at the ministry’s meeting on March 3.
Meanwhile, export is estimated at US$21.06 billion, up 12.3% from the same period last year.
According to the ministry’s report, the industrial production index recorded a year-on-year rise of 5.4% in the reviewed period, with the mining, manufacturing and processing industries posting growths.
At the meeting, Secretary General of the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association Dang Phuong Dung expressed her concern over an official dispatch of the Finance Ministry, which will come into effect on April 1.
The document, which requests exporters to gather their products at fixed areas before their customs declarations are processed, will make them miss their delivery deadlines and cost them more, she added.
