Trade turnover surpasses US$945 billion by mid-October
VOV.VN - Vietnam’s export-import turnover reached US$945 billion between January 1 and October 15, with exports at US$463.7 billion and imports at US$481.36 billion, narrowing the year-to-date trade deficit to US$17.6 billion.
Latest preliminary statistics from the Vietnam Customs indicated trade in the first half of October hit US$56.68 billion, up 48.5% year-on-year, comprising US$29.25 billion in exports and US$27.43 billion in imports.
With these figures, total trade volume raked in US$945 billion in just 9.5 months, outperforming the total US$930 billion recorded for all of 2025.
Foreign direct investment (FDI) enterprises remained the main driver of trade activities. By October 15, FDI exports stood at US$374.2 billion, up 31.3% year-on-year and accounting for 80.7% of total export turnover, while domestic businesses generated US$89.5 billion (19.3%). On the import side, FDI firms spent US$356.49 billion (74%), while domestic enterprises imported US$124.8 billion.
Trade dynamics in early October reflected a notable improvement in the trade balance as export growth outpaced imports, pulling the cumulative trade deficit down to US$17.6 billion from US$19.4 billion recorded over the nine-month period of 2026.
By commodity, computers, electronics, and components led exports with a cumulative US$135.3 billion. Machinery, equipment, and spare parts ranked second at US$58.6 billion, trailed by phones and components at US$54.3 billion. Together, these three categories generated US$248.2 billion, or 53.5% of total national exports.
The agro-forestry-fishery sector also sustained strong momentum. Year-to-date seafood exports exceeded US$9.7 billion, while fruit and vegetable shipments fetched nearly US$7.8 billion. Coffee and cashew nut exports earned US$6.8 billion and nearly US$4.1 billion, respectively.
On the import side, computers, electronics, and components formed the largest group at US$201 billion, followed by machinery and spare parts at US$56.8 billion, base metals at nearly US$12 billion, and phones and components at US$8.67 billion.
Vietnam-EFTA free trade deal gives boost to bilateral commerce
VOV.VN - Thai news outlet The Nation reported on October 18 that Vietnam signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the four member states of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) in Hanoi, marking a major step forward after negotiations concluded amid shifting global trade dynamics.
