Vietnam's first-half trade deficit is expected to more than triple from the same period last year to $6.7 billion, the General Statistics Office said Tuesday.

Imports would be an estimated $38.8 billion and exports, $32.1 billion, it said.

The corresponding figures for last year were 29.7 billion and 27.6 billion.

Vietnam’s main export items in June are textile and garment, footwear, crude oil, and seafood, and the main imports are fabric, steel, gasoline, and plastic.

Economist Le Dang Doanh said exports have been hit by a number of factors, including the depreciation of the euro, the increased anti-dumping tariffs, and product-origin requirements demanded by several countries.

Recent power outages have also badly affected export companies, he said.

Source:tuoitre