Business News

Cross-border trade through the Mong Cai international border gate in northern Vietnam surged 45% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year. Customs data showed that total import-export revenue reached over US$1.31 billion between January and March. Exports accounted for US$754.4 million, while imports stood at US$557.7 million, the Vietnam News Agency reported.

Vietnam’s manufacturing sector rebounded in March after three months of contraction, according to the latest S&P Global Vietnam Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI). The PMI climbed above the 50.0 threshold for the first time in four months, reaching 50.5 in March from 49.2 in February. This improvement signals a modest uptick in overall manufacturing conditions at the close of the first quarter of this year.

HCMC’s gross regional domestic product (GRDP) in the first quarter of this year expanded by over 7.51% year-on-year to more than VND457.6 trillion, the highest Q1 growth rate since 2020. The data was released by the HCMC People’s Committee at a meeting held today, April 2, to review the socio-economic performance in January-March.

Vietnamese small businesses experienced a successful 2024, with 82 percent reporting growth, up from 77 percent in 2023-the country’s highest result since 2019, a survey shows. This momentum is expected to accelerate in 2025, with 92 percent of small businesses expecting to grow, the highest projection among 11 markets surveyed, according to annual small business survey of CPA Australia - one of the largest professional accounting bodies in the world.

Vietnam’s exports of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products totaled US$15.72 billion in the first quarter of this year, up by 13.1% against the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment. Of the total, agricultural exports reached US$8.53 billion, up by 12.2% year-on-year, while livestock products brought in US$131.3 million, an increase of 18.5%.

More foreign financiers are planning new initiatives in Vietnam as it strives to transform itself into a smart manufacturing powerhouse. At last week’s conference on intelligent manufacturing industry collaboration in Hanoi, experts and Chinese businesses praised the status of Vietnam as an attractive destination for foreign investors and an important link in the global supply chain.

With economic stability, policy support and a shift in consumer behaviour, retail and consumer stocks are emerging as key beneficiaries. Việt Nam’s retail sector is on track for strong growth, presenting compelling investment opportunities as domestic consumption continues to rise. As investors look for sustainable growth sectors, Việt Nam’s modern retail and consumer goods industries appear poised to outperform other sectors in 2025.

The southern province of Đồng Nai attracted US$927 million in foreign direct investment (FDI) in the first quarter of the year, coming close to its annual target of $1.1 billion, according to reports from the provincial Department of Finance. Of the total, $407 million was invested in 29 new projects, while more than $520 million went to existing ones.