Vietnam first-half trade surplus $5.46 billion vs $1.72 billion surplus in first-half 2019 - customs

HANOI (Reuters) - Vietnam recorded a trade surplus $5.46 billion (£4.32 billion) in the first half of this year, widening from a surplus of $1.72 billion in the same period last year, government customs data released on Monday showed.

Exports in the January-June period rose 0.2% from a year earlier to $122.79 billion, while imports were down 2.9% to $117.33 billion, the Customs Department said in a statement.

The country reported a trade surplus $1.85 billion in June, slightly narrowing from a $1.97 billion surplus in June last year.

(Reporting by Khanh Vu; Editing by Ed Davies)