In the first half of the year, Vietnam’s total import/export volume to Japan reached $4.7 billion, a 27.9% increase compared with the same period last year.

Vietnam exported $2.7 billion worth of goods to Japan, up 35.5%, accounting for 1% of Japan’s market share. It is expected that Vietnam’s exports to Japan will rise 20% by the end of the year.

Major export items to the Japanese market include crude oil, plastic products, silk, rubber, footwear, ceramics and furniture.

Vietnam imported $2 billion worth of goods from Japan, a 19% increase compared with the same period in 2005.

Vietnam’s export surplus to Japan reached $700 million, up 55.8% from the beginning of the year.