HANOI - China surpassed the United States to become Vietnam's biggest export market in January, the General Department of Vietnam Customs said on Friday.

Vietnam exported roughly $3.7 billion worth of goods to China last month, up 106 percent against January 2017, said the department.

Specifically, Vietnam exported nearly $895 million worth of phones and their components to China, a 19-fold increase from January 2017; some $691 million worth of computers, electronic appliances and components, up 80.1 percent; and $296.3 million worth of vegetables and fruits, up 68.6 percent.

Last month, Vietnam spent nearly $5.8 billion importing products from China, said the department.