Exports increase, imports decrease slightly
According to information from the Customs Department, in August 2025, import-export turnover will continue to maintain growth, the trade balance will maintain a surplus state, while the budget revenue from import-export activities will reach more than 298 trillion VND after 8 months.
In August 2025, the total import-export value of Vietnam's goods reached 83.06 billion USD, up 0.9% over the previous month. Of which, exports reached 43.39 billion USD (up 2.6%, equivalent to an increase of 1.1 billion USD), while imports reached 39.67 billion USD (down 0.8%, equivalent to a decrease of 329 million USD). Thanks to that, the trade balance of goods in August continued to have a surplus of 3.72 billion USD.
In the first 8 months of the year, total import-export turnover reached 597.93 billion USD, up 16.3% over the same period in 2024. Of which, exports reached 305.96 billion USD (up 14.8%), imports reached 291.97 billion USD (up 17.9%). The balance of trade in goods had a surplus of 13.99 billion USD in 8 months, but decreased by 25.7% compared to 18.83 billion USD in the same period last year.
Budget revenue from import-export activities in August 2025 reached VND35,501 billion, down 10.2% compared to July (equivalent to a decrease of VND4,040 billion). In the first 8 months of the year, the revenue reached VND 298,301 billion, equal to 72.6% of the annual estimate, up 8.4% (equivalent to an increase of VND 23,115 billion) over the same period in 2024.
Smuggling continues to be complicated on all routes
In the fight against smuggling and trade fraud, August recorded 1,561 violations, down 10.2% over the same period last year. The value of the infringing goods is estimated at VND 1,055 billion, the budget revenue reached VND 31.24 billion. The Customs authority prosecuted 4 cases and transferred 8 cases to another agency for prosecution.
The sea routes continue to account for the largest proportion of violations with 823 cases, equivalent to 52.7% of the total number of detected cases. The violating goods are concentrated in many major ports such as Van Gia, Dinh Vu, Tan Vu, Cat Lai, Cai Mep... with a common method of violating regulations on labels, standards, and import regulations.
The route recorded 531 cases (34%), mainly at the Vietnam - China and Vietnam - Cambodia borders. The violating items include cigarettes, mobile phones, frozen foods, foreign currency, N2O gas, firecrackers, white sugar, pesticides.
The airline discovered 80 cases (5.12%), the value of violating goods was about 81.2 billion VND, down sharply compared to the same period in 2024. The cases mainly occurred in Noi Bai, Tan Son Nhat, Da Nang, with sophisticated tricks such as depositing, not transacting, using fake documents, and unclear addresses.
On railways, river roads, and post offices, customs agencies also detected and handled 127 violations.
Accumulated from December 15, 2024 to August 14, 2025, the entire customs sector detected and handled 11,912 cases, the value of violating goods was about VND 16,151 billion, budget revenue reached VND 569.12 billion, prosecuted 14 cases and transferred 76 cases to other agencies for prosecution.
In the field of drug prevention and control, from July 15 to August 14, 2025, the customs force presided over and coordinated with the police and border guards to detect and arrest 12 cases with 19 subjects, seizing 158 kg of various drugs.
From December 15, 2024 to August 14, 2025, the entire customs sector has coordinated to handle 137 cases with 172 subjects, seizing a total of 2,263 kg of various drugs, including heroin, ketamine, cocaine, marijuana, drug addiction and tens of thousands of synthetic drug pills.
