According to data from the General Department of Vietnam Customs, in April 2023, Vietnam's exports to Japan reached USD 1.97 billion, decreased by 1.8% compared to USD 2.01 billion recorded in the same period in 2022.

Accumulated over the first four months of 2023, Vietnam exported to Japan with a total value of goods reaching USD 7.32 billion, decreased by 0.85% over the same period in 2022. Textile and garment is the only item exported to Japan worth billion USD with USD 1.12 billion, an increase of 8% over the same period in 2022.

After textiles and garments, in the first four months of 2023, the export turnover of machinery, equipment, tools and other spare parts reached USD 889 million, which is the second largest export value. Compared to the same period in 2022, the export value of this item to Japan recorded a decrease of 0.8%.

Means of transport is the third largest export value with USD 878 million, an increase of 7% over the same period in 2022.

In the group of agro-fishery products, seafood products have the highest export value with USD 443 million, decreased by 9% over the same period in 2022. Japan mainly imports shrimp, squid and octopus from Vietnam.

In the first three months of 2023 alone, according to data from Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), Japan imported USD 105 million of shrimp and USD 138 million of squid and octopus from Vietnam.

After seafood, coffee is the second largest export item in the group, reaching USD 98 million, decreased by 10% over the same period last year; followed by vegetables and fruits with USD 54 million, an increase of 8%, etc.

Notably, in the first four months of the year, the export of cassava and cassava products to Japan reached 2,282 tons, worth USD 1.16 million, an increase of 34 times in volume and an increase of 19 times in value compared to 66 tons and USD 63,025 recorded in the same period in 2022.

Out of a total of 40 main products exported to Japan, 26 export items were with negative growth. Coal is the commodity with the largest decrease with -99% compared to the same period in 2022 followed by glass and glass products with -86%; fertilizer -81%, etc.

In contrast, cassava and cassava products are the items that have achieved the highest growth, followed by ores and minerals with 84%, phones and components with 37%, etc.

Kylie Nguyen