![Vietnam likely recorded $1 billion trade deficit in December: preliminary data](https://secure3.vncdn.vn/ttnew/r/2020/12/27/vietnam-trade-1609059802.jpg)
HANOI — Vietnam likely recorded a trade deficit of $1 billion in December, government data released on Sunday showed.
Exports in December likely rose 17% from a year earlier to $26.5 billion, while imports were likely up 22.7% to $27.5 billion, the General Statistics Office (GSO) said in a statement.
The GSO’s trade data is traditionally released before the end of the reporting period and often subject to revision.
For 2020, the Southeast Asian country’s exports likely rose 6.5% to $281.47 billion, while imports were up 3.6% to $262.41 billion, translating into a trade surplus of $19.06 billion, the GSO said.
According to the GSO, Vietnam’s industrial output in 2020 rose 3.4% and its average consumer prices increased 3.23%.