HANOI: Vietnam had a trade deficit of $1.3 billion in May, matching the government's forecast, customs data showed on Tuesday.
Exports rose 7.2% from the previous month to $22 billion, while imports were up 10.5% to $23 billion, the Customs Department said in a statement.
Smartphones, garments and electronic home appliances were among the largest export earners in May. Key imports were electronics, machinery and fabrics, the department said.
For the first five months of this year, Vietnam's exports rose 7.1% to $101.12 billion from a year earlier, while imports were up 10.6% to $101.55 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of $434 million.