Export maintain high growth rate
Export picture for the first eight months of 2026 continues to record remarkable figures, creating an important foundation for double-digit export growth target for the whole year. According to General Statistics Office, Ministry of Finance, in August, export value of goods reached US$54.79 billion, a 3.2% increase compared to previous month. For the first eight months, export value reached US$374.84 billion, a 22.4% increase compared to the same period last year.
Along with export, overall trade in goods continues to maintain a large scale. Total import and export turnover for the first eight months reached US$770.14 billion, a 28.7% increase compared to the same period last year and the highest eight-month figure ever recorded.
Notably, export growth momentum is being maintained on a relatively stable commodity structure. Processed industrial goods continue to play a leading role, reaching US$337.99 billion, accounting for 90.2% of total export turnover. Agricultural and forestry products reached US$26.65 billion, accounting for 7.1%; seafood reached US$8 billion, accounting for 2.1%; and fuels and minerals reached US$2.2 billion, accounting for 0.6%.
Not only processed industrial goods, but several agricultural and seafood product groups are also showing significant growth potential. According to Vietnam Pepper and Spice Association, in the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam exported 190,153 tonnes of pepper, earning $1.2 billion, an increase of 14.2% in volume and 8.9% in value compared to the same period in 2025.
Notably, the higher growth rate in volume compared to growth rate in value indicates that the industry's potential lies not simply in selling more. A more important challenge is increasing value per unit of product, increasing processing levels and improving market exploitation capabilities.
Regarding seafood, export in the first eight months reached $8 billion, an increase of 11.8% compared to the same period, equivalent to 67% of $12 billion target for the whole year. Speaking with a reporter from Industry and Trade Newspaper, Mr. Nguyen Hoai Nam, General Secretary of Vietnam Association of Seafood Processing and Export, said that important advantage of Vietnamese seafood lies not only in its raw materials but also in its capacity for deep processing and creating added value. This is also one of the important directions to expand export potential in the remaining months of the year.
Opening up more opportunities from FTAs and digital-based exports
With goal of achieving double-digit export growth in 2026, Ministry of Industry and Trade believes that leveraging free trade agreements (FTAs), supporting businesses to enhance competitiveness and expanding export methods will be important areas for growth.
FTAs not only open up more market opportunities but also create conditions for Vietnamese goods to access markets with preferential tariffs. However, to translate these incentives into actual export revenue, businesses must better meet quality, origin, technical and environmental standards of each market.
Another opportunity is emerging from new export methods, notably cross-border e-commerce. According to Import-Export Department, by 2025, Vietnam's e-commerce market reached approximately US$31 billion, placing Vietnam in the top 10 globally and top 3 in ASEAN. Growth rate of e-commerce export is projected at 78%, with a total import-export value through this channel of approximately US$4.45 billion. This provides a foundation for Vietnamese businesses to gradually reach international consumers in a way different from the traditional export model.
With this goal in mind, recently in Ho Chi Minh City, Department of E-commerce and Digital Economy - Ministry of Industry and Trade, in collaboration with TikTok Shop and with support of Department of Foreign Market Development - Ministry of Industry and Trade, announced initiative “Beyond Vietnam - Vietnamese Goods Take Flight.” This initiative aims to support Vietnamese enterprises in building and strengthening their online export capabilities, directly reaching international consumers through an exploratory e-commerce model.
A notable aspect of this model is the shift from a “waiting to be found” approach to a “proactive appearance” Vietnamese products can reach consumers through short videos, livestreams, content creators and local user communities. For small and medium-sized enterprises, cooperatives and production facilities with limited resources, this could be a noteworthy market approach. Many Vietnamese products already possess unique value and identity, but lack ability to effectively tell their story to international consumers.
Export-oriented product groups such as agricultural products, seafood, processed foods, textiles, footwear and handicrafts have been identified as having potential for exploitation through cross-border e-commerce if they receive synchronized support in terms of content, cooperation with creators, store operation, logistics and brand building in the local market.
In 2026, the "Beyond Vietnam - Vietnamese Goods Take Flight" program aims to train and enhance digital export capabilities of approximately 500 enterprises; provide in-depth consulting and one-on-one support to 50 enterprises with a high level of export readiness; and support at least 10 enterprises in achieving their first 1,000 orders through exploratory e-commerce in international markets.
By 2028, the program aims to expand training to 2,000 enterprises, while simultaneously forming a group of Vietnamese enterprises capable of sustainably operating exploratory e-commerce abroad.
With such goals in mind, TikTok Shop is expected to help increase export of goods through cross-border e-commerce, along with platforms that enterprises have already utilized relatively well in the past, such as Alibaba and Amazon.
Regarding trade promotion solutions, Mr. Nguyen Hoai Nam believes that trade promotion activities need to go beyond framework of traditional trade fairs, strengthen market research, and connect directly with importers, retailers and large distribution systems. At the same time, role of Vietnamese trade offices abroad needs to be strengthened in providing information on consumer trends, policy changes and business opportunities for enterprises.

Source: Vitic/ congthuong.vn