US exports to Vietnam rose sharply this year following a series of tariff reductions that cut import duties on many goods to zero, according to the General Department of Customs.
Imports from the US reached USD 13.6 billion in the first nine months of 2025, up more than 23 per cent year on year.
The strongest growth came from computers, electronics and components, which totalled over USD 4 billion, an increase of about 24 per cent. The surge reflects rising demand for technology upgrades and replacement parts across Vietnam’s electronics, telecommunications and medical equipment industries.
Imports of machinery and spare parts reached USD 915 million, up 14.6 per cent, while plastic materials climbed 46 per cent to USD 855 million.
Agricultural imports from the US also rose significantly between January and September. Vietnam spent USD 1.1 billion importing 650,000 tonnes of cotton, up 84 per cent, making the US its largest supplier.
Soybean imports totalled USD 301 million, 2.5 times higher than a year earlier, while fruit and vegetable imports grew 36 per cent to USD 413 million, driven by stable demand in urban premium markets and the food-processing sector.
A representative of a premium food distributor in Hanoi said the share of US products in the company’s imports had risen from 28 per cent to 40 per cent within nine months. USA Foods Co. Ltd. reported a 30 per cent increase in imports from the US, attributing the rise to tariff cuts that encouraged firms to shift sourcing to American suppliers.
Economist Le Dang Doanh described the increase in US exports to Vietnam as a positive and expected step towards narrowing the trade gap between the two countries. He said US goods hold strong advantages in quality, safety and traceability across key sectors from agriculture and consumer products to industrial inputs.
He added that future growth is likely to come from high-tech industries such as semiconductors and LNG, though Vietnamese companies will need time to understand US supply chains and establish long-term partnerships.