Vietnam’s export-import turnover is likely to hit a record 500 billion USD in the fourth quarter of 2019, up 5 percent from 2018, according to the General Department of Vietnam Customs. 

The 2018 figure reached 480.17 billion USD, over 52 billion USD higher than that in 2017. The country’s export-import hit 100 billion USD in 2007, 200 billion USD in 2011, 300 billion USD in 2015 and 400 billion USD in 2017.

The local economy openness index was estimated at 196 percent last year. Exports and imports increased by 13.2 percent and 11.1 percent, respectively. 

The year 2018 marked the third consecutive year that Vietnam posted a trade surplus. 

Statistics by the department showed that as of January 10, 2019, the country’s trade surplus hit an all-time high of nearly 6.8 billion USD, compared to 2.11 billion USD in 2017 and 1.78 billion USD in 2016.

Source: VNA