Vietnam’s foreign trade continued its rapid expansion in 2026, with total import-export turnover reaching US$445.12 billion during the first five months of the year, marking a 25 per cent increase compared with the same period in 2025, according to data released by the National Statistics Office under the Ministry of Finance.
The latest figures highlight the sustained momentum of Vietnam’s export-orientated economy, supported by strong manufacturing output, growing international demand and increasing industrial activity, reports
VNA, a TV BRICS partner.
In May alone, total trade turnover reached US$99.07 billion, rising 3.2 per cent from April and 25.8 per cent year-on-year. Exports totalled US$46.93 billion during the month, while imports climbed to US$52.14 billion.
Between January and May, Vietnam’s exports generated US$215.66 billion, an increase of 19.5 per cent compared with the same period last year. Imports expanded at an even faster pace, rising 30.8 per cent to US$229.46 billion, reflecting growing demand for production inputs, machinery and industrial materials.
As a result, the country recorded a trade deficit of US$13.8 billion during the first five months of 2026, compared with a trade surplus of US$5.1 billion a year earlier. The domestic economic sector posted a deficit of US$20.76 billion, while the foreign-invested sector maintained a surplus of US$6.96 billion.
Manufactured goods remained the dominant driver of export performance, accounting for US$193.71 billion, or 89.8 per cent of total export revenue. Agricultural and forestry products contributed US$15.79 billion, while seafood exports reached US$4.67 billion and fuel and mineral products generated US$1.49 billion. Twenty-six product categories surpassed US$1 billion in export value, together accounting for more than 90 per cent of total exports.
The foreign-invested sector continued to play a leading role in trade expansion, contributing US$172.16 billion in exports, equivalent to almost 80 per cent of total export revenue and representing annual growth of 24.7 per cent. Meanwhile, the domestic sector generated US$43.5 billion in exports.
Analysts note that the sharp rise in imports reflects robust industrial production, expanding manufacturing capacity and sustained investment activity, all of which support Vietnam’s long-term economic growth prospects.