Vietnam customs data released last week shows a slight downturn in exports in April, losing 7.7 percent over March. That said, exports were still up over the first four months of the year by 15.1 percent compared to 2023. Imports were also down 2.9 percent in April over March but also up 15.1 percent over the first four months of the year compared to 2023.
The biggest growth in exports was in coal which skyrocket by over 10,000 percent month-on-month–in March Vietnam exported 1,065 tons but in April that went up to 109,219. That said, Vietnam also imported 5,897,391 tons of coal in April an 8.5 percent increase over March. Fruits and vegetables, and tea rounded out the top three recording 28.2 and 21.3 percent growth, respectively.
In imports wheat, fertilizer, and wood and wood products took out the top three places in terms of growth. They record jumps of 68.2, 32.3, and 20.3 percent. The biggest falls were recorded in cashew nuts, other petroleum products, and motor vehicles clocking declines of 31.4, 27.6, and 22.6 percent respectively.
Vietnam trade breakdown, first four months of 2024
| Total | Jan | Feb | Mar | April |
| Imports | 30,898,421,447 | 23,303,704,383 | 30,881,001,417 | 29,986,518,554 |
| Exports | 34,530,824,568 | 24,685,447,297 | 33,659,175,457 | 31,052,684,042 |
| Balance | 3,632,403,121 | 1,381,742,914 | 2,778,174,040 | 1,066,165,488 |
| Foreign owned firms | Jan | Feb | Mar | April |
| Imports | 19,650,581,380 | 15,388,792,850 | 19,312,151,723 | 18,467,947,964 |
| Exports | 24,870,090,374 | 18,178,962,790 | 24,079,790,680 | 21,743,098,079 |
| Balance | 5,219,508,994 | 2,790,169,940 | 4,767,638,957 | 3,275,150,115 |
| Vietnam owned firms | Jan | Feb | Mar | April |
| Imports | 11,247,840,067 | 7,914,911,533 | 11,568,849,694 | 11,518,570,590 |
| Exports | 9,660,734,194 | 6,506,484,507 | 9,579,384,777 | 9,309,585,963 |
| Balance | -1,587,105,873 | -1,408,427,026 | -1,989,464,917 | -2,208,984,627 |