Tan Vu port in Hai Phong city (Source: baohaiquan.vn)
Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnam enjoyed a trade surplus of 3.37 billion USD in thefirst two quarters of 2018, the highest level over the last five years.
According to the GeneralDepartment of Customs, the country’s export turnover increased by 16.3 percent year-on-year to 114.2billion USD in the reviewed period.
Twenty commodities have posted export revenue of over 1 billion USD so far.They included phones and components (22.5 billion USD); computers, electronicproducts and components (13.45 billion USD); textile-garment (13.42 billionUSD); machinery, equipment, tools and spare parts (7.8 billion USD); andfootwear (7.79 billion USD).
In terms of imports, the country spent 110.83billion USD on importing goods from January to June, up by 9.6 percent.
According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), domestic businesses reporteda 19.9-percent rise in their exports by shipping 33.07 billion USD worth ofgoods abroad over the first half. Meanwhile, FDI enterprises earned 80.86billion USD from exports, up 14.5 percent in the corresponding period lastyear.
The ministry said there are many favourable conditions for export throughoutthe rest of the year.
Agricultural and fishery exports often increase in the middle and peak at theend of each year. Industrial products with big export revenues, liketextile-garment, footwear, and wood products, have entered their export seasonsince the second quarter, it noted.
Additionally, the Comprehensive and ProgressiveAgreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and the EU-Vietnam Free TradeAgreement, expected to take effect in 2019, have been already been catalystsfor foreign direct investment that could help Vietnam further boost its productioncapacity, it added.
The ministry forecast this year’s exports at236.6 billion USD, up 10 percent against 2017.-VNA
Vietnam enjoyed a 1.5 billion USD trade surplus with the UK for the first four months of 2018 as the country exported 1.75 billion USD worth of goods to the market and imported 238 million USD.
With 15.8 percent growth in the first five months of this year to 93.09 billion USD, achieving export growth target of more than 10 percent for the whole year is feasible.
Vietnam’s export turnover is likely to reach 236.6 billion USD in 2018, an increase of 10 percent against the previous year, amid favourable domestic and foreign economic conditions, say analysts.
As many as 20 products recorded more than 1 billion USD in export turnover in the first half of 2018, accounting for 85.6 percent of Vietnam’s total exports, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO).
Forestry posted the highest trade surplus, at 3.23 billion USD, amongst agricultural sectors in the first half of 2018, according to the Vietnam Administration of Forestry (VNForest).
The new Government decree also simplifies loan procedures while expanding credit incentives to include organic and circular agriculture, allowing them to access preferential terms similar to those of high-tech and value-chain based agricultural production.
Developed with state-of-the-art infrastructure, the Da Nang FTZ is designed to become a leading regional economic centre and a strategic growth pole in Vietnam’s new development landscape.
The Binh Duong Association of Supporting Industries (BASI) is expected to promote the usage of domestically manufactured components while supporting businesses in accessing international markets, strengthening linkages, and promoting deeper integration into global supply chains.
PwC Vietnam forecasts a vibrant M&A market in Vietnam’s healthcare sector in 2025, driven by rising demand for high-quality medical services and a growing middle class. Pharmaceutical companies, private hospitals, and specialised medical facilities, particularly in ophthalmology and oncology, are predicted to be key targets for M&A.
The central province of Quang Nam is set to become a hub for the medicinal plant industry, with Ngoc Linh ginseng designated as the core crop, under the Prime Minister's decision issued earlier this year.
The North-South Expressway project is scheduled for completion by 2030, aiming to establish the groundwork for Vietnam’s modern railway industry and stimulate regional economic development, positioning the country for a significant economic leap in the era of national rise.
The probe, initiated on June 11 following a petition by the US Coalition for Fair Trade in Hardwood Plywood, targets products classified under HS Code 4412 and 9403 imported from China, Indonesia and Vietnam.
Sun PhuQuoc Airways was born as a perfect piece in Sun Group’s strategic vision to build a premium ecosystem of tourism, entertainment, real estate, and aviation. With a pioneering ambition, Sun PhuQuoc Airways is not just an airline, but a symbol of connection – bringing the world to Phu Quoc and taking Phu Quoc to the world.
A key change in the draft decree is a provision requiring bank transfers for gold transactions valued at 20 million VND (765 USD) and above, to enhance transparency and verify customer identities.
In the first four months of 2025, trade turnover between Vietnam and Cambodia surpassed 3 billion USD, marking a 7% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
On June 19 alone, a total of 2,005 trucks completed customs clearance at Lang Son’s border gates — the highest single-day figure ever recorded in the province. Of these, 634 carried exports and 1,371 imports.
The OECD Economic Surveys: Vietnam 2025 report focuses on analysing the country’s macroeconomic fundamentals, the impact of international integration on attracting foreign investment and trade, and the country’s prospects for developing a low-carbon economy.
Antoine Colin, Senior Vice President for Global Supply Chain Digital Transformation & Resilience at HP Inc., affirmed HP’s strategic commitment to building a supply chain and ecosystem in Vietnam and the region.
Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT)’s Trade Promotion Agency Bui Quang Hung emphasised that logistics has evolved from a technical function into a core capability for Vietnamese exporters to maintain their competitive advantage in the US market.
A trade official has suggested companies work closely with shipping lines, airlines, and freight forwarders to monitor routes, transit times, and potential surcharges while exploring broader cargo insurance to cover risks like war and terrorism.
In addition to institutional reform, the agency is also rolling out key solution groups to combat counterfeit goods, imitations, and intellectual property infringements in the digital environment.
The event, co-organised by the Vietnam Trade Office in the UK and TT Meridian, a local importer of Vietnamese fresh produce, aims to build a national lychee brand and encourage broader recognition of Vietnamese fruits in a competitive, high-end market.
The industry's performance has been powered by bold investments in modern production lines, enabling Vietnamese firms to produce complicated products which were exclusive to advanced economies.
Tan Vu port in Hai Phong city (Source: baohaiquan.vn) 
