Vu Ba Phu, Director of the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency (Vietrade) under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, stated that the Government has set highly challenging yet promising targets for the MoIT  this year, aiming for a 12% increase in total export value and a trade surplus of about US$30 billion.

This is an important step in paving the way for the economy to enter the 2026–2030 period, with the goal of achieving sustainable growth and making effective use of the free trade agreements (FTAs) that Vietnam has signed.

During the eight-month period, import-export turnover reached nearly US$305 billion, up 14.4%, highlighting notable gains while also posing challenges in terms of competitiveness and market diversification.

Notably, the FDI sector continued to play a leading role with US$228 billion, up more than 18%, while domestic enterprises earned US$76.5 billion, up 3%. This underscores the strong momentum of the FDI sector but also reflects the competitiveness limitations of domestic enterprises. Addressing this challenge requires the Government and the MoIT to further support and strengthen the position of Vietnamese enterprises in global value chains.

In agriculture, key products such as coffee, cashew nuts, and seafood maintain growth momentum, whereas rice, tea, and fruits have declined, signaling a need for restructuring and improving processing value.

In manufacturing and processing industries, products like phones, electronic components, computers, garments and textiles, and footwear continue to grow strongly, serving as the main driver of exports, while the fuel and mineral sector declined, indicating a shift away from raw resource extraction and highlighting the need to enhance value addition.

Meanwhile, exports to major markets have recorded positive results, including the United States, Europe, India, Hong Kong, Japan, the Republic of Korea (RoK), and selected African countries.

Familiar markets such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines have shown slower growth, indicating the need to explore new and emerging markets, and diversify trade partners.

The Ministry has issued directives and plans to develop new markets, manage imports effectively, and expand trade promotion activities. Vietnamese trade offices abroad are expected to act as a bridge connecting importers and distributors, while making full use of FTAs such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).  

Vu Ba Phu emphasized, “The success of Vietnam’s exports in 2025 is not only measured by growth figures but also by balance, sustainability, and diversification. We must fully leverage opportunities in emerging markets while solidifying our position in traditional markets.”

In a world of continuing uncertainties, diversifying markets, products, and supply sources remains crucial for sustaining Vietnam’s import-export growth through the remainder of 2025 and into 2026.

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