05.01.202608:47:46UTC+00Vietnam Posts 1st Trade Gap in 10 Months

In December 2025, Vietnam experienced a trade deficit of USD 0.66 billion, transitioning from a USD 0.52 billion surplus observed in the same month of the previous year. This marked the first trade deficit since February, attributed to the slower growth in exports compared to imports. Specifically, exports increased by 23.8% year-on-year, reaching USD 44.03 billion, while imports rose by 27.7%, totaling USD 44.69 billion. Despite this monthly deficit, Vietnam closed the year 2025 with a significant cumulative trade surplus of USD 20.03 billion, driven by an overall increase in exports and imports by 17.0% and 19.4%, respectively. Throughout the year, processed industrial goods shipments amounted to USD 421.47 billion, making up 88.7% of total exports. The United States continued to be Vietnam’s largest export destination, with turnover at USD 153.2 billion. On the import side, production materials stood at USD 426.11 billion, constituting 93.6% of total imports, with China serving as the primary source. For context, in 2024, exports to the United States represented roughly 30% of Vietnam's GDP.