HANOI, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam is estimated to post a trade surplus of some 1.5 billion U.S. dollars in the first half of 2016, according to Vietnam's General Statistics Office (GSO) on Tuesday.
Specifically, during the period, Vietnam is expected to earn over 82.2 billion U.S. dollars from exports, up 5.9 percent year-on-year, the office said in a report on socio-economic situation in the first six months of 2016 on its website.
Meanwhile, during the period, the country is likely to spend over 80.7 billion U.S. dollars for imports, down 0.5 percent.
Among the exported commodities, the group of heavy industry and mining is estimated to earn some 37.4 billion U.S. dollars, up 6.3 percent year-on-year, accounting for 45.5 percent of the country's total export value.
Export revenue of light industry and handicraft is expected to reach 33.5 billion U.S. dollars, up 5.1 percent year-on-year, making up 40.7 percent of the country's total export value.
In terms of imports, the group of production machines and materials accounts for the largest proportion of 91.3 percent of total import value during the six-month period, while the group of consumption goods makes up 8.7 percent of the total import value.
During the six-month period, Vietnam's domestic sector is likely to see trade deficit of 9.7 billion U.S. dollars while foreign sector is estimated to post surplus of 11.2 billion U.S. dollars.
China still tops among trade partners of Vietnam in the first half of 2016 with total trade revenue of 32.5 billion U.S. dollars, said GSO.
In 2015, Vietnam saw trade deficit of some 3.2 billion U.S. dollars, according to GSO.
