Vietnam's imports from US surge in Jan-April, led by electronics, automobiles

The country imported goods worth US$5.66 billion from the U.S. in the period, up more than $1.1 billion from a year earlier, according to the General Department of Customs. 

April alone accounted for $1.56 billion.

Computers, electronic products and components were the top import group, reaching $1.82 billion, up from $1.15 billion in the same period last year.

Imports of cameras, camcorders and parts more than doubled to $5.55 million. 

Car imports rose 2.5 times, with 110 fully assembled vehicles arriving in April, compared with 43 units in the first three months combined.

Vietnam also spent $45.3 million on 163,029 metric tons of U.S. wheat in the four-month period, including 108,962 metric tons in April.

Imports of other U.S. goods — including soybeans, raw plastics, cotton, paper and industrial inputs — grew between 20 percent and 100 percent from a year earlier, the data showed.

Vietnam imported 3,341 metric tons of paper worth $5.3 million in January-April, compared with 1,849 metric tons valued at $3.4 million a year earlier.

Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang said Vietnam would send its largest-ever delegation to the SelectUSA Investment Summit in the United States from Sunday to Wednesday, aiming to boost trade and investment ties.

The delegation will meet with U.S. agencies and industry groups in sectors including semiconductors, high technology, finance, and startups, Thang said.

Vietnam's exports to the United States reached $12 billion in April, bringing the total for the first four months to $43.4 billion.

The top export was electronics and components at $10.7 billion, followed by machinery at $7.1 billion, textiles at $5.1 billion and mobile phones at $3.4 billion.