COMPUTERS AND ELECTRONICS TOP VIETNAM’S IMPORT REVENUE

Workers are seen at an electronic product manufacturing factory in Vietnam - PHOTO: VGP

HCMC – Vietnam’s imports of computers, electronic products and components are estimated to reach nearly US$150 billion in 2025, the highest level on record.

According to preliminary data from the General Department of Vietnam Customs, imports of this product group are expected to total US$149.4 billion by the end of 2025, up about US$42.3 billion from 2024. This marks the largest import value ever recorded for a single commodity group.

By comparison, exports of computers, electronic products and components are estimated at more than US$106 billion in 2025. This leaves a trade deficit of around US$43.4 billion for the sector.

The sharp rise in imports reflects Vietnam’s expanding role in global technology manufacturing and assembly chains, as well as strong demand for components, semi-finished goods and production inputs. However, the wide gap between imports and exports highlights the country’s continued reliance on foreign suppliers, particularly for core components and key technologies.

Taken together, three major high-tech groups—computers, electronics, and components; phones and components; and machinery, equipment and tools—are estimated to generate US$221 billion in imports in 2025. These products account for nearly 49% of Vietnam’s total import value, rising by about US$54.3 billion year-on-year and representing roughly 80% of the country’s overall import growth.

On the export side, the same three groups are expected to bring in around US$222 billion, or 47% of total exports, up US$43 billion from 2024 and contributing nearly 67% of export growth.

Despite the large scale of trade, the combined trade surplus for these high-tech sectors is estimated at only around US$1 billion, suggesting limited value added retained domestically.

Asia continues to dominate Vietnam’s import structure. China is Vietnam’s largest supplier, with imports estimated at US$183 billion in 2025, accounting for about 41% of total imports and rising by roughly US$39 billion from the previous year.

South Korea ranks second at about US$60 billion, up more than US$4 billion. Other major sources include ASEAN with US$53 billion, Taiwan at US$33 billion, Japan at US$25 billion, the U.S. at US$18 billion, and the EU at around US$17 billion.

Vietnam’s total trade turnover in 2025 is estimated at around US$920 billion, up 16.9% from 2024. Imports are projected at US$449.41 billion, an increase of 18%, while exports are expected to reach US$470.59 billion, up 15.9%.

Vietnam is set to maintain a trade surplus, but the import-export structure points to the growing dominance of high-tech goods on both sides of trade. The near US$150 billion import milestone for computers and electronics underscores Vietnam’s deep integration into global supply chains, while raising questions about import dependence and the need to increase localization in high-tech industries in the years ahead.

Source: The Saigon Times