Exports climb 10.1 in October yy
Imports up 13.6 yy, mostly raw materials for manufacturing
Industrial output grows 7 in Oct vs 10.8 in Sept
Export growth to be solid, led by textiles, computers Oxford

HANOI, Nov 6 Reuters Vietnam reported an October trade surplus of 2 billion, narrowing from the previous month as imports grew at a faster rate than exports, government data showed on Wednesday.

The Southeast Asian country, a regional manufacturing hub, relies heavily on exports for its economic growth. Shipments rose 10.1 in October from a year earlier, the General Statistics Office GSO said, while imports increased by 13.6.

October39;s trade surplus was the smallest since May, according to GSO data. The agency said nearly 94 of imports in October were raw materials for manufacturing.

Export growth will remain solid from resilient export growth in textiles and computers, Oxford Economics said in a note following the October data.

China is Vietnam39;s biggest source of imports. According to the GSO39;s data breakdown, as of August, Vietnam39;s imports this year from China reached 92 billion, up 26 compared to the same period last year. That represented 37 of Vietnam39;s imports this year.

For the JanuaryOctober period, exports rose 14.9 from a year earlier to 335.59 billion, while imports were up 16.8 to 312.28 billion, the GSO said.

Industrial production gained 7.0 in October from a year earlier, slower than the 10.8 growth the previous month, which Oxford…