Vietnam exported 77.7 billion USD worth of commodities during the firsthalf of 2015, a year-on-year increase of 9.3 percent, the GeneralStatistics Office estimated.

The growth rate was lower than the 15.4 percent rise recorded during the same period last year.

Domestic enterprises shipped abroad 22.8 billion USD worth of goodsduring the period through June, a drop of 2.9 percent.

Meanwhile, foreign invested companies saw a total export turnover,including crude oil, of 54.9 billion USD, rising by 15.3 percent from ayear earlier and making up 70.6 percent of the total exports – thehighest ratio ever.

Among key export commodities,telephones and components brought home 14.7 billion USD (up 27.1percent), computers and components – 7.4 billion USD (up 60.4 percent),footwear – 5.9 billion USD (21.9 percent), and cashew nuts – 1.1 billionUSD (28.4 percent).

Overseas shipments in June alone were estimated at some 14.3 billion USD, up 4.4 percent from the previous month.

Over the first two quarters, Vietnam posted an import turnover of81.5 billion USD, a year-on-year surge of 17.7 percent, compared to 10.5percent a year before.

As a result, the six-monthperiod saw a trade deficit of 3.7 billion USD, equivalent to 4.8percent of the total export value.-VNA