Around 14,500 Apple iPhone cell phones were imported over the last two months, contributing to the country’s trade deficit, according to the General Department of Customs.

The first batch of iPhone imported into Vietnam.

According to the agency, Vietnam imported 5.1 million handhelds of all brands, worth $300 million, in the January-April period. Viettel and VinaPhone began importing luxury iPhone products in March and April. By April 30, 14,500 iPhones arrived, compared to Viettel and VinaPhone’s predications of 1500 units. The total investment in this product is around $9 million.

A General Department of Customs official told VNExpress that telecom companies may pay up to a billion dollars to import mobile phones and 3G equipment. For this reason, the agency and the Ministry of Industry and Trade rank mobile phones in the category of luxury imports, which are not being encouraged. Like cars, cell phones will be “especially controlled” by pricing risk management tools. The import tax rates on mobile phone are now at 8-10 percent.

In late March the telecom market heated up in anticipation of the arrival of legal Apple iPhones. Hundreds of people queued in front of Viettel and VinaPhone’s shops on the first day. The two firms initially announced they would sell 500-600 iPhones/day, but now they have stopped releasing sales figures.

IPhones may not be selling well in Vietnam. One week ago VinaPhone had to adjust its policy to encourage sales and Viettel plans to follow. MobiFone has yet to launch this product, although it has signed a distribution contract with Apple.

PV