The National Statistics Office under the Ministry of Finance reported on March 6 that Vietnam’s export turnover in February was estimated at USD 33.06 billion, down 23.7 per cent from the previous month.
Of the total, the domestic economic sector generated USD 6.44 billion, falling 33.1 per cent, while the foreign-invested sector, including crude oil, earned USD 26.62 billion, down 21 per cent.
Compared with the same month last year, February’s exports rose 5.7 per cent. However, exports from the domestic sector dropped 24.3 per cent, while shipments from the foreign-invested sector increased 17 per cent.
In the first two months of 2026, total export turnover reached USD 76.36 billion, up 18.3 per cent year on year. The domestic sector contributed USD 15.96 billion, down 12 per cent and accounting for 20.9 per cent of the total. The foreign-invested sector generated USD 60.4 billion, up 30.1 per cent, representing 79.1 per cent.
During the period, 13 export items recorded turnover exceeding USD 1 billion each, accounting for nearly 80 per cent of the total export value, including four items surpassing USD 5 billion.
Processed industrial products dominated the export structure with USD 68.55 billion, accounting for 89.8 per cent of total exports. Agricultural and forestry products reached USD 5.8 billion, or 7.6 per cent, while aquatic products totalled USD 1.72 billion, representing 2.2 per cent. Fuel and mineral products stood at USD 0.29 billion, or 0.4 per cent.
On the import side, February’s import turnover was estimated at USD 34.1 billion, down 24.6 per cent from the previous month. The domestic sector imported goods worth USD 9.55 billion, decreasing 27.5 per cent, while the foreign-invested sector recorded USD 24.55 billion, down 23.4 per cent.
In the first two months of the year, total import turnover reached USD 79.34 billion, up 26.3 per cent year on year. The domestic sector accounted for USD 22.47 billion, down 1.5 per cent, while the foreign-invested sector posted USD 56.87 billion, up 42.2 per cent.
Production materials dominated the import structure with USD 74.67 billion, accounting for 94.1 per cent of total imports. Machinery, equipment, tools and spare parts made up 56 per cent, while raw materials and fuels accounted for 38.1 per cent. Consumer goods were estimated at USD 4.67 billion, representing 5.9 per cent.
Regarding markets, the United States remained Vietnam’s largest export market with turnover of USD 23.8 billion, while China was the country’s largest import source with USD 31.9 billion.
Vietnam posted a trade surplus of USD 20.4 billion with the United States and USD 6.7 billion with the European Union. Meanwhile, it recorded trade deficits of USD 20.9 billion with China, USD 6.5 billion with the Republic of Korea, and USD 2.6 billion with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
Nguyen Thi Huong, director of the National Statistics Office, said the government should intensify trade promotion, diversify supply chains and export markets, and better utilise opportunities from signed free trade agreements.
She also stressed the need to expand exports to major markets while exploring new destinations such as halal markets, Latin America and Africa to maintain sustainable trade growth.
Authorities should also help businesses meet international standards, improve access to capital, apply advanced technologies, and enhance product quality and value to expand markets and support long-term export growth, she added.