AsemconnectVietnam - In 2025, Vietnam's import and export turnover is estimated to reach a record high of US$920 billion.

To lay the foundation for 2026, Vietnam will strengthen logistics, improve institutions, and develop supporting industries to accelerate exports.
Although natural disasters in 2025 caused damage in many raw material areas, disrupting the supply chain of agricultural products and processing industries, Vietnam's logistics operations maintained high capacity, ensuring smooth flow of goods to serve production and export.
According to the data from the Vietnam Customs Department, in 2025, Vietnam's total import and export turnover is expected to reach approximately US$920 billion, an increase of nearly 17% compared to the previous year. Of this, exports were estimated to reach approximately US$470.59 billion, an increase of 15.9%. Imports reached US$449.41 billion, an increase of 18%. Vietnam maintained a trade surplus of over US$21 billion and is among the world's largest trading economies.
This result also marked an important milestone for the economy in the period of deep integration. This achievement reflects the rapid adaptability of businesses to fluctuations in the international market.
The Agriculture and Environment sector is projected to reach nearly US$70 billion in 2025, with fruit and vegetable exports reaching US$8-8.4 billion, an increase of approximately 18% compared to 2024. According to Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh, Chairman of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association (Vnfruit), processed fruits and vegetables continued to grow at a double-digit rate, reaching approximately US$1.65 billion, significantly increasing product value compared to fresh exports. This is a suitable direction to stabilize domestic prices and expand profit margins.
Solutions from the Ministry of Industry and trade and export targets for 2026
According to experts and businesses, exports are expected to grow significantly in 2025, but there are still many things to consider. While the export market structure has shifted, the level of dependence on a few major markets remains high, such as Northeast Asian countries, the US, ASEAN, and the EU. Statistics showed that export turnover to these four market regions accounted for nearly 80% of the country's total export turnover, leading to risks when demand or trade policies in these markets fluctuate.
Many high-value commodities such as coffee, pepper, shrimp, and pangasius fish are traded outside of the official exchange, leaving businesses without tools to hedge against price fluctuations and making it difficult to sign long-term contracts. Meanwhile, the utilization rate of FTA preferences is only about 31%, indicating significant room for further growth.
Forecasts for 2026 indicated that the global economy and trade will continue to face numerous risks, from geopolitical instability to supply chain disruptions, putting significant pressure on the export activities of emerging economies. In this context, the Ministry of Industry and Trade aims for an 11% increase in the Industrial Production Index (IIP) and over 8% increase in export turnover compared to 2025, while maintaining a trade surplus of approximately US$25 billion.
However, the 8% export growth target is considered challenging, as this figure is based on the high growth of 2025. This year, exports have overcome difficulties, reaching approximately US$470 billion, a 16% increase, significantly higher than the planned 12%.
To realize this goal, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has identified the focus as restructuring the industrial sector towards high value-added production, reducing raw material exports, developing high-tech industries, increasing self-sufficiency in raw materials, and promoting supporting industries. Increasing the localization rate is considered a key factor in reducing dependence on imported components.
In addition, the Ministry of Industry and Trade will effectively utilize the benefits from existing Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), actively exploit recovering markets, and expand export channels through new bilateral and multilateral agreements. Trade defense measures, early risk warning, dispute resolution, and market update will be implemented regularly and proactively.
Amid geopolitical conflicts, climate change, and high logistics costs, the Ministry of Industry and Trade prioritizes promoting negotiations on new-generation FTAs, accelerating the implementation of the National Logistics Strategy, reducing transportation and warehousing costs, developing a commodity derivatives trading market, and amending the Commercial Law to align with international standards.
The Ministry is also coordinating the establishment of international financial centers in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, developing free trade zones; and implementing the "Go Global - Reaching the International Market" program to support small and medium-sized enterprises in participating deeply in export value chains.
CK
Source: VITIC/congthuong.vn