HANOI: Vietnam reported a trade surplus of $2.8 billion in the first quarter of the year, government customs data released on Monday showed.

Exports in the January-March period rose 23.7% from a year earlier to $78.4 billion, while imports were up 26.8% to $75.6 billion, the Customs Department said in a statement.

In March, the country reported a trade surplus of $1.2 billion, swinging from a deficit of $460 million in February, it added.