Want to be in the loop?
subscribe to
our notification
Business News
VIỆT NAM POSTS TRADE SURPLUS OF $4.67 BILLION IN FIRST FIVE MONTHS
Thanks to a strong surge in exports, the trade balance for the second half of May posted a surplus of $2.94 billion, raising the total trade surplus for the first five months of this year to $4.67 billion.

Loading goods in Hải Phòng Port in the North of Việt Nam. — Photo congluan.vn
HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam’s total import-export turnover from May 16 to 31 reached nearly US$42.5 billion, marking a 17.6 per cent increase compared to the first half of the month.
Thanks to a strong surge in exports, the trade balance for this period posted a surplus of $2.94 billion, raising the total trade surplus for the first five months of this year to $4.7 billion.
Overall, in the first five months, Việt Nam’s total import-export turnover reached $355.8 billion, an increase of 15.7 per cent compared to the same period in 2024.
Of this, the foreign direct investment (FDI) sector continued to dominate with $243.5 billion, up 17.3 per cent, while domestic enterprises recorded $112.3 billion, up 12.2 per cent.
Export turnover in the second half of May reached $22.7 billion, a significant increase of 34.4 per cent compared to the first half of the month.
The growth was mainly driven by product groups such as electronics, machinery, textiles and wood. Notably, steel exports more than doubled, with a sharp increase of 114.8 per cent.
By the end of May, the total export value had reached $180.23 billion, an increase of 14 per cent year-on-year. The FDI sector alone contributed over $130 billion, up 15 per cent, accounting for more than 72 per cent of the country’s total export value.
On the import side, goods imported during the second half of May amounted to $19.76 billion, a 2.9 per cent increase compared to the first half.
Significant increases were seen in product groups including machinery and equipment, electronic components, liquefied natural gas and corn. However, imports of many raw materials declined, including crude oil, fabric, chemicals and wheat.
Total import turnover for the first five months reached $175.6 billion, up 17.5 per cent. — BIZHUB/VNS
Source: VNS
Related News
SENTRYSAFE CHW20201 - EFFECTIVE WATER RESISTANCE, MAXIMUM PROTECTION
In unexpected flooding situations, the most important thing is to keep your valuables dry and intact. SentrySafe CHW20201 is specially designed with superior water-resistant capabilities, helping protect documents, cash, and important belongings even when fully submerged. Proven in real testing: After water submersion, the documents inside remain dry - undamaged.
AN ELECTRIFYING NIGHT WITH THE "QUEEN OF DANCE" THU MINH AT THE GRAND HO TRAM!
The stage at The Grand Ballroom is set to catch fire as Vietnam’s undisputed "Queen of Dance," Thu Minh, takes the spotlight. Renowned for her powerhouse vocals, magnetic stage presence, and sultry, high-energy performances, Thu Minh promises an evening of pure musical euphoria. The energy escalates with an exclusive appearance by special guest and The Voice champion, Vu Thao My.
HIGH-QUALITY HUMAN RESOURCES NEEDED TO ATTRACT NEW TECH INVESTMENT CAPITAL
Besides infrastructure, Việt Nam must also rapidly develop a highly skilled workforce to attract investment in AI, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing, experts have said. Don Lam, CEO and co-founder of investment management company VinaCapital, said that global technology investors were increasingly looking at the readiness of the entire ecosystem, with high-quality human resources a decisive factor.
HIRING OUTLOOK STRENGTHENS IN Q4 AS SKILLS SHORTAGES PERSIST
Hiring intentions among employers in Việt Nam strengthened in the fourth quarter, with 52 per cent of surveyed companies planning to increase headcount between October and December, according to a ManpowerGroup survey released this week. Việt Nam's hiring outlook was stronger than the Asia Pacific and Middle East (APME) regional average of 33 per cent and the global average of 29 per cent, ranking third in the region and 11th globally among 42 markets surveyed.
LARGE BANKS FORECAST TO GAIN HIGHER PROFITABILITY IN H2 2026
The return on average assets (ROAA) of the banking sector will likely remain stable at around 1.5 per cent in the second half of 2026, but profitability divergence among banks will increase, with large banks outperforming peers on stronger margins and diversified earnings, analysts forecast. In a recent report on the banking sector, analysts from the Vietnam Investors Service Rating said the sector’s ROAA rose by 10 basis points quarter-on-quarter to 1.51 per cent in the first half of this year, driven by net interest margin (NIM) improvements at some State-owned banks and large private banks.
VIỆT NAM'S FOOTWEAR, BAG EXPORTS TO US TOP $8 BILLION IN EIGHT MONTHS
Việt Nam's exports of footwear and handbags to the US exceeded US$8 billion in the first eight months of 2026, as the US and EU remained the country's biggest markets despite sluggish growth in footwear shipments. Exports from Việt Nam's leather and footwear sector reached more than $2.45 billion in August, down 9 per cent from July but up 3 per cent from a year earlier, according to preliminary statistics.






















