AsemconnectVietnam - According to the data from the Vietnam Customs Department, in January of 2026, Vietnam exported 1.084 million tonnes of iron and steel, earning US$650.28 million.

Compared to December of 2025, the iron and steel export volume increased by 28.37% and value increased by 18.7%; compared to January of 2025, volume increased by 17.88% and value increased by 6.42%. The average export price reached US$559.71/tonne, a decrease of 7.53% compared to December of 2025 and a decrease of 9.72% compared to the same period of 2025.
The United States continued to be Vietnam's largest export market, reaching 204,946 tonnes, equivalent to US$104.2 million, accounting for 18.9% of the volume and 16.02% of the value. The exports of iron and steel to this market increased sharply compared to the previous month, reflecting a strong increase in import demand or the emergence of large orders during the period.
Following the United States was India with 62,446 tonnes, worth of US$69.33 million, accounting for 5.76% of the volume but a significant 10.66% of the value, indicating a high average export price to this market. Compared to December of 2025, the exports to India increased by 54.04% in volume and 9.31% in value; compared to the same period last year, the increase was very strong, at 572.55% and 350.87% respectively. This showed great growth potential, although partly due to the low comparison base of the previous year.
The next was Cambodia with 118,601 tonnes, worth of US$65.6 million, accounting for 10.94% in volume and 10.09% in value of the country's total iron and steel exports. Compared to December of 2025, the exports to Cambodia increased slightly by 2.66% in volume and 1.62% in value, showing stability in import demand. Compared to the same period last year, this market saw a significant increase of 29.39% in volume and 23.21% in value, reflecting the trend of expanding consumption and maintaining sustainable growth.
The ASEAN region continued to play a crucial role in the export structure. Markets such as Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines accounted for a substantial share of total export value. The exports of iron and steel to Thailand and the Philippines recorded very strong growth compared to the same period last year. Specifically, exports to Thailand increased by 499.25% in volume and 276.93% in value; while exports to the Philippines surged by 967.61% in volume and 775.08% in value, indicating a strong recovery in iron and steel import demand in these two markets, or a low base compared to the previous year. Conversely, the exports of iron and steel to Indonesia saw a 7.27% decrease in volume and a 19.48% decrease in value compared to the same period last year, and also a decrease compared to the previous month, reflecting a shrinking import trend. This reflects differences in demand and market conditions among countries in the region.
In addition, some markets such as Turkey, Myanmar, and Russia recorded a surge in growth, but their proportion was still small. Conversely, exports to Singapore, the UK, and Australia decreased sharply, indicating weakening demand in some traditional markets.
In January of 2026, Vietnam's iron and steel exports maintained positive growth in volume and value, with the United States, India, and Cambodia continuing to be key markets. However, the decrease in average export prices indicates that competitive pressure and price adjustment trends are still available.
CK
Source: VITIC