Foreign trade value exceeds US$177 billion

Key export products with good growth include clinker and cement (up 36.5%, equivalent to US$6 million), vegetables and fruit (up 28.7% or US$26 million) and rubber (up 18.3% or US$12 million). 

Meanwhile, strong decreases were seen in the export of coal (down 98.9%, equivalent to US$3 million); iron and steel (48.3% or US$59 million); precious stone, non-ferrous metals and related products (36.9% or US$35 million); and chemicals (31% or US$16 million). 

In the reviewed period, import value totalled nearly US$87.7 billion, falling 0.7% (US$584 million) from the same period last year.