Vietnam's trade deficit reached an estimated 15.8 billion dollars for the first nine months of the year, according to official figures released Wednesday.
Imports between January and September reached 64.4 billion dollars, up 48.3 percent year-on-year, while exports grew 39 percent to 48.6 billion dollars, the General Statistics Office (GSO) said.
The revised trade deficit for January-August stood at 15.3 billion dollars, against 16 billion dollars in a previous estimation.
The communist-ruled country reported a rise in imports of machinery and equipment for production of 35.4 percent, totalling 10.5 billion dollars.