Vietnam recorded a trade surplus of 7.31 billion USD in October 2026 after a surplus of 1.3 billion USD in September, according to the National Statistics Office under the Ministry of Finance.
The office's socio-economic report released on November 3 said total import-export turnover in October was estimated at 122.03 billion USD, up 3.7% from the previous month and 47.4% year on year.
In the first 10 months, total trade turnover reached 1.01 trillion USD, up 32.3% year on year. It exceeded the 1-trillion-USD mark for the first time and reached a record high. Exports rose 27.5%, while imports increased 37.4%, resulting in a trade deficit of 12.07 billion USD.
Export earnings in October reached 64.67 billion USD, up 8.7% month on month and 51.4% year on year. Domestic businesses contributed 9.94 billion USD, while the foreign-invested sector, including crude oil, accounted for 54.73 billion USD. The figures increased 4.2% and 9.5%, respectively.
Cumulative exports from January to October rose 27.5% year on year to 499.24 billion USD. Domestic businesses contributed 93.93 billion USD, up 8.2%, while foreign-invested enterprises contributed 405.31 billion USD, up 33%. Their respective shares were 18.8% and 81.2%.
During the period, 37 export product groups generated more than 1 billion USD each, accounting for 94.9% of total export value. Eight product groups exceeded 10 billion USD, making up 73.4% of exports.
Processed products accounted for most exports at 452.74 billion USD, or 90.7%. They were followed by agricultural and forestry products at 33.48 billion USD, or 6.7%, seafood at 10.36 billion USD, or 2.1%, and fuels and minerals at 2.66 billion USD, or 0.5%.
Imports in October totalled 57.36 billion USD, down 1.4% month on month but up 43.1% year on year.
In the first 10 months, imports rose 37.4% year on year to 511.31 billion USD. Production materials accounted for 481.03 billion USD, or 94.1%, while consumer goods made up the remaining 5.9%.
Vietnam posted trade surpluses of 40.84 billion USD with the European Union and 3.42 billion USD with Japan. The figures were up 26.8% and 110.4%, respectively. Meanwhile, Vietnam recorded deficits of 134.94 billion USD with China, 48.63 billion USD with the Republic of Korea and 16.93 billion USD with ASEAN.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade plans to accelerate exports, diversify markets and improve businesses' compliance capacity. It will focus on making better use of signed free trade agreements, expanding into new markets and strengthening early warnings of trade defence cases, tariff barriers, green standards, traceability and rules of origin.
The ministry will also support businesses in improving product quality, developing brands and ensuring supply chain transparency. It plans to promote official export channels, expand agricultural quarantine agreements, invest in cold-chain logistics infrastructure and standardise growing areas and packing facilities to meet partner markets' requirements.
Sources: VietnamPlus / Vietnam News Agency
