Quang Ninh province's customs officers inspect export goods at Bac Luan international border gate. (Photo: VNA)
Foreign trade continued to be a key driver of the economy in the first nine months of the year, with total turnover reaching USD 680.6 billion, up 17.3 per cent year on year.
Bui Huy Son, Director General of the MoIT’s Department of Planning, Finance and Enterprise Management, reported that exports in the third quarter increased by 18.4 per cent from the same period last year and 9.6 per cent from the previous quarter, totalling USD 128.57 billion.
Bui Huy Son, General Director of the MoIT’s Department of Planning, Finance and Enterprise Management, speaks at the press conference in Hanoi on October 8, 2025. (Photo: VNA)
In the January to September period, export turnover reached USD 348.74 billion, up 16 per cent year on year and exceeding the annual growth target of 12 per cent.
Thirty-two export items each brought in over USD 1 billion, accounting for 93.1 per cent of total export revenue. Of these, seven items exceeded USD 10 billion, representing 67.9 per cent. The United States, China, the European Union, ASEAN and Japan remained Vietnam’s major export markets.
The processed industrial sector contributed the most to export growth, with turnover of USD 297.2 billion, up 16.7 per cent and accounting for 85.2 per cent of total exports. Meanwhile, agricultural exports were estimated at USD 33.2 billion, up 15.2 per cent and representing 9.5 per cent of the total.
Vietnam’s imports in the first nine months stood at nearly USD 332 billion, up 18.8 per cent year on year. The domestic sector accounted for USD 105.67 billion (up 4.6 per cent), while the foreign-invested sector contributed USD 226.25 billion (up 26.8 per cent).
China remained the largest supplier with USD 134.4 billion, up 27.9 per cent, followed by the Republic of Korea (USD 44.4 billion, up 7 per cent), ASEAN (USD 39.1 billion, up 14.5 per cent), Japan (USD 18.2 billion, up 13.2 per cent) and the United States (USD 13.7 billion, up 23.6 per cent).
According to the MoIT, Vietnam posted a goods trade surplus of USD 16.8 billion during the first nine months of 2025, contributing significantly to macroeconomic stability and strengthening foreign exchange reserves.