Ample room for growth in Vietnamese exports to France
Vietnam remains France’s largest goods supplier in ASEAN and Vietnamese exports still have the opportunity to penetrate further into the European market.
Vietnamese agricultural products sold in France. (Photo: congthuong.vn)
Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnam remains France’s largest goods supplier inASEAN and Vietnamese exports still have the opportunity to penetrate further intothe European market.
The General Department of Vietnam Customs reported that Vietnam exported morethan 308.3 million USD worth of goods to France in January, up 28 percentyear-on-year.
Vietnam also imported 175 million USD worth of goods from the country, ayear-on-year rise of 92 percent, resulting in a trade surplus of 133.3 millionUSD.
The highest gains were seen in means of transport and spare parts,garment-textiles, leather and footwear materials, and rice.
Phones and spare parts was a main driver, with export revenue exceeding 81.6million USD.
France is also the second-largest importer of Vietnamese fruit and vegetables inthe EU, behind the Netherlands, with over 3.5 million USD worth shipped to thecountry in January, up 17 percent year-on-year.
The results are attributable to the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA),which took effect last August.
According to the European-American Market Department at the Ministry ofIndustry and Trade, France has long been one of Vietnam’s major trade partnersin the EU.
It is Vietnam’s fourth-largest importer in the bloc, after the Netherlands,Germany, and Austria.
Vietnam’s exports to the country are expected to bounce back at the end of thisquarter when the pandemic is better contained and lockdowns are lifted in France./.
Over the past 47 years, Vietnam- France relations have developed in all spheres, especially since the countries established a strategic partnership in 2013.
The Vietnam-France Friendship Association in Ho Chi Minh City and the city’s Youth Cultural House co-organised a music festival on June 19 night to mark the 50th anniversary of the Francophonie.
The Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organisations (HUFO) held a get-together in HCM City on July 13 to celebrate France’s Bastille Day on July 14.
The Vietnam–France Friendship Association, a member of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO), celebrated its 65th founding anniversary (July 2, 1955 – 2020) in a Hanoi ceremony on December 19.
While German consumers are familiar with Vietnamese products such as coffee, seafood, tea, and spices, many other quality items remain relatively unknown in the market. The Selgros event not only helped introduce Bac Giang lychee to German consumers but also provided them with the opportunity to experience other Vietnamese agricultural products.
The article by Cuba’s Inter Press Service detailed how Vietnamese private enterprise Agri VMA leased 1,000 ha of land in Los Palacios district, Cuba’s westernmost province of Pinar del Río, for rice cultivation over a three-year period. The project’s first harvest in 2025 recorded an impressive yield of 7.2 tonnes per hectare, far exceeding the local average of 1.6 tonnes.
During the visit, office representatives held a working session with the Tipaza Chamber of Commerce and Industry and met with several prominent local businesses operating in key sectors including industry, agriculture, fisheries, food processing, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and plastics.
A Nordic delegation to Vietnam International Sourcing 2025 in September will feature leading names in retail, consumer goods, logistics, and sustainable manufacturing, including global fashion giant H&M, offering fresh prospects for partnerships in fashion, textiles, and green supply chains.
With the current trading band of +/- 5%, the ceiling rate applicable for commercial banks during the day is 26,276 VND/USD and the floor rate 23,774 VND/USD.
Effective from the date of signing on June 18, the decision halts procedures outlined in the 2005 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the governments of Vietnam and Laos on the initial implementation of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Cross-Border Transport Facilitation Agreement at the Lao Bao–Densavan border gate.
The event aimed to update businesses on new regulations and compliance requirements regarding US tax, trade, and customs policies, while offering practical solutions to facilitate exports amid shifting trade dynamics.
The festival marks a significant milestone in promoting the brand, value, and legacy of traditional fish sauce - a product deeply rooted in the island’s identity and history spanning over 200 years.
According to Mastercard data, Vietnam has recorded a remarkable 92% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in contactless transaction volume from Q4 2022 to Q4 2024.
Tuan expressed his confidence that LH, with its expertise and experience, would swiftly implement the urban area project, contributing to a modern urban landscape for the province.
With its strategic location, abundant workforce, and modern infrastructure, Vietnam holds significant potential to become a leading centre for power and electronics production in the region and the world.
The renewable energy workforce training and development centre, invested by Germany's GEO Group, is expected to be a cornerstone in shaping Binh Dinh as a renewable energy and innovation hub in central Vietnam, meeting the growing demand for skilled technical personnel in offshore wind, solar farms, and green hydrogen projects.
A notable trend is the shift toward satellite regions. With land scarcity and soaring prices in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, investors are eyeing provinces like Hung Yen, Bac Ninh, and Hai Phong, which are benefiting from improved technical infrastructure and transport connectivity.
To further strengthen private-sector innovation, Bac Ninh plans to accelerate administrative reforms, build a digital, service-oriented government, and develop an integrated innovation ecosystem that connects businesses with domestic and international institutions, universities, and experts.
The participation of H&M, one of the world's largest fashion corporations, in Vietnam International Sourcing 2025 in Ho Chi Minh City in early September is considered a special highlight, opening up many cooperation opportunities for Vietnamese businesses in the fashion, textiles and sustainable supply chains.
This latest order builds on a previous agreement signed at the Singapore Airshow last year for 40 engines, bringing the total number of Trent 7000 engines ordered by the airline to 80.
Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien acknowledged that despite concerted efforts by ministries and local authorities in combating fake and substandard goods, the situation remains highly complicated, attributing the persistent challenges to high profits luring numerous participants, increasingly sophisticated violations, limited resources within enforcement agencies.
Vietnamese agricultural products sold in France. (Photo: congthuong.vn) 
