Exports drive growth

Vietnam aims for economic growth of at least 8.3% in 2025, while localities are setting targets of double-digit growth. This is a highly important yet challenging mission, requiring significant efforts from both the State and the business community.

Enterprises seek trade opportunities at an international construction fair held in Ho Chi Minh City in August 2025. Photo: Vuong The

An encouraging sign is that in the first eight months of 2025, Vietnam’s import and export activities recorded impressive results, reflecting a strong recovery of the economy despite ongoing global uncertainties.

Momentum built for economic growth

According to the National Statistics Office, Vietnam’s export turnover in August 2025 reached nearly US$43.4 billion, up 2.6% from the previous month and up 14.5% year-on-year. Overall, in the first eight months of 2025, export turnover totaled almost US$306 billion, up 14.8% compared to the same period in 2024. On the other side, imports reached nearly US$292 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of close to US$14 billion.

The country’s processed industrial goods group made a major contribution, generating over US$271 billion of the total US$306 billion export value during the eight months of 2025.

In Dong Nai province, import and export activities have maintained a positive growth trend. According to provincial statistics, the province’s export turnover in August reached more than US$3.3 billion. For the eight-month period of 2025, the figure exceeded US$22.8 billion, up 18.7% year-on-year. Exports continued to grow strongly across key commodities, with many categories achieving both high turnover and sharp growth rates compared to the same period, notably: rubber up 125.5%; computers, electronic products and components up 72.3%; cashew nuts up 66.2%; wood and wood products up 40.2%; and coffee up 34.2%.

Head of the Dong Nai Statistics Office, Cao Dang Vien assessed that market expansion and export diversification are identified as core solutions to boost the province’s economic growth. The trade surplus of US$6.5 billion in the first eight months demonstrates that despite global economic uncertainties and supply chain disruptions, the export outlook remains promising. The key is for businesses to proactively grasp the situation and adopt flexible solutions to mitigate adverse impacts on production and operations.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), while challenges remain, indicators for domestic production, industrial development, consumption, and exports are still on an upward trend. The MoIT expects exports to continue overcoming difficulties, achieving new milestones and creating momentum for economic growth in the coming time.

Deeper integration into global supply chains

In early September 2025, the Vietnam International Sourcing event attracted 450 purchasing delegations from 60 countries and territories to seek suppliers in Vietnam. These delegations came from traditional markets such as the United States, European Union, Japan, and the Republic of Korea (ROK), along with emerging potential regions like the Middle East, Latin America, and Eastern Europe.

Wood is one of Dong Nai’s major export products. Photo: Vuong The

As part of the event, the MoIT hosted the Export Forum 2025. Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Phan Thi Thang noted that Vietnam’s exports to markets with free trade agreements (FTAs) have been recovering strongly. New-generation FTAs such as CPTPP, EVFTA, and UKVFTA, along with numerous bilateral and multilateral FTAs signed and implemented earlier, have created a vast market network, serving as a driving force for Vietnamese businesses and industries to expand globally.

Importantly, Vietnam has shifted from pure outsourcing to positioning itself as a product development partner, co-creating with global brands. Many multinational corporations, wholesale/retail distribution channels, and e-commerce platforms are diversifying strategies to ensure sustainable supply chains, and they have selected Vietnam as a strategic location in their global supply networks.

According to economic experts, if Vietnam effectively capitalizes on FTAs, strengthens supporting industries, and enhances value added, the country can maintain its positive momentum not only through 2025 but also in the years ahead.

The MoIT is also implementing the project “Promoting Vietnamese enterprises’ direct participation in foreign distribution networks by 2030.” This initiative aims to strengthen connections between Vietnamese companies and international distributors and importers, thereby supporting deeper integration into global supply chains and better adaptation to market fluctuations.

For businesses, Vice Chairman of the Dong Nai Import-Export Association Nguyen Duy Hung emphasized that Vietnamese enterprises have increasing opportunities to participate more deeply in global supply chains as the country’s economic openness grows. Beyond their own efforts to seize opportunities, what businesses seek is better access to market information and foreign policy updates facilitated by the State. In addition, more programs, events, and networking activities are needed to enable Vietnamese enterprises to directly connect with importers in a fast and efficient manner.

By: Vuong The

Translated by: M.Nguyet-Thu Ha