In May, the total import-export turnover of goods reached 78.64 billion USD, an increase of 5.8% over the previous month and an increase of 15.5% over the same period last year. In the first five months of 2025, the total export and import turnover of goods reached 355.79 billion USD, up 15.7% over the same period last year, of which exports increased by 14.0%; imports increased by 17.5%. The trade balance of goods had a trade surplus of 4.67 billion USD.
Exports maintained their growth momentum, with the FDI sector dominating
According to the report on the socio-economic situation in May and the first 5 months of 2025, in May 2025, Vietnam's total export turnover of goods reached 39.6 billion USD, up 5.7% compared to April 2025 and up 17.0% compared to the same period in 2024. In the first five months of 2025, the total export turnover reached 180.23 billion USD, up 14.0% over the same period last year. The foreign-invested economic sector (including crude oil) continued to play a key role, reaching 130.61 billion USD, up 14.5%, accounting for 72.5% of total export turnover. Meanwhile, the domestic economic sector reached 49.62 billion USD, up 12.5%, accounting for 27.5% of the market share. In May alone, the FDI sector increased sharply by 20.1% compared to the previous month, while the domestic economic sector decreased by 26.1%.
In the first 5 months of the year, there were 25 export items with a turnover of over 1 billion USD, accounting for 90% of the total export turnover; of which 7 items reached over 5 billion USD, contributing up to 67.3%. The export structure still focused mainly on the processed industrial goods group with a turnover of 158.93 billion USD, accounting for 88.2%. The agricultural and forestry products group reached 15.88 billion USD (8.8%), aquatic products reached 4.21 billion USD (2.3%) and fuels and minerals reached 1.21 billion USD (0.7%).
In terms of export markets, the United States continued to be the largest partner with a turnover of 57.2 billion USD in the first five months of the year. The trade surplus to this market reached 49.9 billion USD, up 28.5% over the same period last year. The trade surplus to the EU reached 16.3 billion USD (up 16.0%) and to Japan reached 0.9 billion USD (up 74.8%).
Imports accelerate, trade balance gradually narrows
The total import turnover of goods in May 2025 reached 39.04 billion USD, up 5.9% compared to April and up 14.1% compared to the same period in 2024. Cumulatively in the first five months of the year, the import turnover reached 175.56 billion USD, up 17.5% over the same period last year.
Of which, the domestic economic sector reached 62.04 billion USD, up 12.9%, while the foreign-invested sector reached 113.52 billion USD, up 20.2%. Notably, in May alone, the FDI sector increased sharply by 25.9%, while the domestic economic sector decreased by 25.0% compared to the previous month.
There were 29 imported items with a turnover of over 1 billion USD, accounting for 86.9% of the total import value; of which 4 items reached over 5 billion USD, accounting for 51.6%. The group of production materials continued to account for a large proportion, reaching 164.75 billion USD (93.8%), of which the group of machinery, equipment, tools, and spare parts accounted for 51.2% and the group of raw materials, fuels, and materials accounted for 42.6%. The group of consumer goods reached 10.81 billion USD, equivalent to 6.2% of the total import turnover.
In terms of import markets, China is the largest partner with a turnover of 69.4 billion USD in the first five months of 2025. Vietnam's trade deficit with China was 45.9 billion USD, up 40.3% over the same period last year. Other large trade deficit markets include South Korea (12.3 billion USD, up 5.7%) and ASEAN (6.5 billion USD, up 66.3%).
The trade balance of goods in May 2025 was a trade surplus of 0.56 billion USD, a slight decrease compared to April. In the first five months of the year, Vietnam had a trade surplus of 4.67 billion USD, significantly lower than the trade surplus of 8.71 billion USD in the same period in 2024. Of which, the domestic economic sector had a trade deficit of 12.42 billion USD, while the foreign-invested sector (including crude oil) had a trade surplus of 17.09 billion USD.

Source: Vitic/ congthuong.vn