The U.S. – A key export market for Vietnamese goods

Vietnam’s import–export activities this year have continued to break records, surpassing USD 900 billion in the first 11 months. In terms of exports, the United States remains Vietnam’s largest market.

Vietnamese products are increasingly reaching a more diverse range of export markets. Illustrative photo: Vuong The

Despite challenges from tariffs, Vietnam’s exports to have continued to grow strongly in the key U.S. market, demonstrating the competitiveness of Vietnamese products. Export potential in global market in general, and in the U.S. market in particular, remains substantial, but it also requires businesses to proactively enhance their capabilities and strengthen production autonomy to achieve optimal efficiency.

Impressive results

According to data from the General Statistics Office of Vietnam, in the first 11 months of 2025, Vietnam’s merchandise exports exceeded USD 430 billion, up 16.1% year-on-year. There were 36 export items with turnover of over USD 1 billion, accounting for 94.1% of total export value, and 8 export items with export value exceeding USD 10 billion, accounting for 70.3%. Processed and manufactured industrial products reached USD 381.72 billion, accounting for 88.7%, while the group of agricultural and forestry products reached USD 35.58 billion.

Within Vietnam’s export landscape, the United States is the largest export market, with turnover reaching USD 138.6 billion, accounting for more than 32% of total exports. This is a strategically important market for sectors such as electronics, computers, mobile phones, textiles and garments, footwear, wooden products, and seafood.

Like the rest of the country, for Dong Nai Province, the United States is currently its largest trading partner. The provincial exports to the U.S. account for 32–33% of total export turnover and represent the province’s largest trade surplus market. Of Dong Nai’s total export turnover of more than USD 31.7 billion in the first 11 months, exports to the United States reached nearly USD 11 billion, accounting for 34.6%. Dong Nai’s export products to the U.S. continue to be diversified, with growth in key agricultural products as well as processed, manufactured, and electronic goods, helping to sustain the province’s overall export growth momentum.

In the context of global trade being continuously affected by trade defense measures and tariffs imposed by various countries—particularly from the United States—Vietnam’s export achievements are truly impressive.

At a seminar titled “Solutions for High and Sustainable Export Growth,” organized by the Import–Export Department of the Ministry of Industry and Trade on December 16, Tran Thanh Hai, Deputy Director of the Department, noted that 2025 is a particularly significant year for Vietnam’s import–export activities, as total turnover has surpassed USD 900 billion. Over the past decade, Vietnam has largely maintained a trade surplus, enabling Vietnamese goods to integrate more deeply into global markets and contributing to domestic macroeconomic stability.

Exploiting potential and opportunities

Vietnam and the United States have normalized relations for 30 years and have been comprehensive strategic partners since 2023. Despite challenges, cooperation opportunities between the two countries remain wide open.

At the ceremony marking the 30th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam–U.S. diplomatic relations (July 12, 1995 – 2025), organized by the Dong Nai Provincial People’s Committee on July 1, the Acting U.S. Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, Anne Benjaminson, highly appreciated the potential and future of bilateral cooperation, especially in economic terms. According to Anne Benjaminson, as economic ties expand, other forms of cooperation will also follow. The United States will continue to enhance skills, retrain the workforce, and strengthen supply chain security so that both economies can develop strongly and sustainably.

For businesses, diversifying economic activities and expanding export–import markets is an effective solution to gradually integrate Vietnamese goods into the global marketplace, with the United States currently serving as a core market.

In Dong Nai, many enterprises have expanded trade relations and cooperation with U.S. partners. In late November 2025, Tan Vinh Cuu Joint Stock Company (TAVICO) welcomed 20 representatives from the U.S. Softwood Export Council (SEC), led by SEC President Rose Braden, along with architect Scott Barton-Smith and experts, during a visit to the company’s factory and showroom in Dong Nai. The U.S. delegation learned about the TAVICO ecosystem and the Dong Nai wood industry, toured the factory, and discussed opportunities for cooperation and connectivity in the future.

According to the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Tan Vinh Cuu Joint Stock Company Vo Quang Ha, maintaining regular connections with foreign businesses and partners creates more opportunities for Vietnamese products to enter demanding markets, thereby building credibility for exports to other markets.

Over the past 30 years, Vietnam–U.S. economic cooperation has achieved impressive results. However, economists note that in the coming period, Vietnam needs to continue shifting from quantity-based growth to quality-based growth; diversify export markets alongside the United States to enhance the overall competitiveness of Vietnamese brands. Domestic businesses should focus on production innovation, increasing value added, technological content and localization rates, optimizing logistics costs, promoting trade and branding, expanding FTA networks, and developing markets.

By Vuong The – Translated by Thuy Trang, Thu Ha