Exports gain momentum as businesses go green

According to the Ministry of Finance, trade turnover in July reached US$82.2 billion, up 16.8% year-on-year. In the first seven months of 2025, total trade hit nearly US$ 514.7 billion, an increase of 16.3%, generating a surplus of about US$10.2 billion. Industrial output rose 8.5% in July and averaged 8.6% over seven months, with manufacturing growing 10.3%. The Purchasing Managers’ Index climbed to 52.4 points, signaling healthier manufacturing activity.

Enterprises are increasingly linking green development to sustainable exports. JP Corelex Vietnam, which sells 90% of its recycled paper to 35 markets, has invested in biomass boilers, a 2.5 MW solar power system, electric forklifts, and energy-efficient engines to cut emissions. The company’s products meet FSC and FDA standards, and it reports no complaints from foreign clients over the past two years.

In electronics, MCNEX VINA Ninh Binh, a supplier for Samsung, continues to upgrade technology and product design, helping sustain strong growth. Its export revenue has reached about US$700 million, 20% higher than before the COVID-19 pandemic.

In agriculture, Nafoods Group recently signed a US$20 million agreement with the Dutch development bank FMO to expand production and promote green farming. Previously, it partnered with ResponsAbility on projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and optimize its value chain. Similar efforts are seen across agro-processing, garments and textiles, and building materials, as firms adopt clean technologies and reuse by-products to meet stricter standards in the US, EU, and Japan. These moves show that “greening” is not only inevitable but also a pathway to stronger branding and competitiveness.

Diversifying markets to strengthen resilience

Despite the positive outlook, experts caution that trade tensions, rising tariffs, and tightening environmental standards remain huge challenges.

On August 12, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh issued Directive No. 133, urging strong measures to achieve GDP growth of 8.3-8.5% in 2025, laying the foundation for double-digit growth in the 2026–2030 period.

In industry and trade, he tasked the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) with restructuring the sector, prioritizing new technologies, and building high-quality human resources for strategic industries. The goal is to achieve industrial value-added growth of 9.6-9.8%, with manufacturing rising 11.2-11.5%.

MoIT is also expected to develop flagship products linked to national branding and step up trade promotion in key and emerging markets such as the Middle East, Africa, and South America. Targets for 2025 include 12% export growth and a US$30 billion trade surplus.

In agriculture, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment will coordinate with MoIT and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to expand access to markets including China, ASEAN, the Middle East, and Latin America. The sector aims to lift agro-forestry-fishery exports to US$65 billion, while also promoting eco-labeling, green fairs, and agricultural weeks to encourage sustainable consumption.

At the “Vietnam Import-Export: Recognition-Announcement-Connection-Cooperation” event on August 1, MoIT Minister Nguyen Hong Dien outlined three strategic directions: strengthening legal frameworks and integrating FTAs into domestic law; easing production and financing bottlenecks to support exports; and fostering enterprise-led adaptability through branded exports, e-commerce, and improved defenses against trade disputes.

With macroeconomic stability, decisive government direction, and proactive corporate strategies, Vietnam’s trade sector is expected not only to meet but to surpass its 2025 targets. Accelerating “greening” and making effective use of FTAs will help Vietnamese exports enhance competitiveness and consolidate their position in global supply chains.

Vietnam sourcing expo 2025 expected to boost exports to Brazil

The Vietnam International Sourcing Expo 2025, scheduled for September 4–6 in Ho Chi Minh City, is expected to be a major platform for promoting trade, investment, and tourism between Vietnam and global markets, especially Brazil - the largest economy in Latin America.