Many key export groups drop sharply
The latest preliminary statistics from the Customs Department show that the total import-export value of Vietnam's goods in the first half of May 2025 (from May 1 to May 15, 2025) reached 36.09 billion USD, down 6.8% (equivalent to a decrease of 2.64 billion USD) compared to the second half of April 2025.
This result has brought the total import-export value of the country by May 15, 2025 to 313.26 billion USD, up 15.3%, equivalent to an increase of 41.53 billion USD over the same period in 2024. Of which, the foreign direct investment (FDI) enterprise sector reached a total turnover of 211.59 billion USD, up 15.5% (equivalent to an increase of 28.4 billion USD).
However, the trade balance of goods in the first period of May recorded a deficit of 2.32 billion USD. Accumulated from the beginning of the year to May 15, 2025, the trade balance still has a surplus of 1.74 billion USD.
In terms of exports alone, the total value of Vietnam's export goods in the first half of May reached 16.88 billion USD, down 18.3% (equivalent to a decrease of 3.77 billion USD) compared to the second period in April 2025. Many key export groups recorded sharp decreases such as: machinery, equipment, tools and spare parts decreased by 513 million USD (down 19.7%); textiles decreased by 401 million USD (down 22.8%); computers, electronic products and components decreased by 394 million USD (down 8.9%).
From the beginning of the year to May 15, 2025, Vietnam's total export value reached 157.5 billion USD, up 13.3% (equivalent to an increase of 18.49 billion USD) over the same period last year. In particular, some product groups recorded strong growth such as: computers, electronic products and components increased by 9.22 billion USD (up 38.3%); machinery, equipment, tools and spare parts increased by 2.66 billion USD (up 16.1%); coffee increased by 1.52 billion USD (up 56.6%).
For FDI enterprises, export value in May 1 reached US $ 13.24 billion, down 5.7% (equivalent to 797 million USD) compared to the 2nd period of April 4, 2025. However, by the end of May 15, 2025, the export of this block still reached 112.36 billion USD, up 13.1% (equivalent to nearly 13 billion USD) compared to the same period last year, accounting for 71.3% of the total export value of the country.
Import increases by more than 1.1 billion USD, FDI accounts for nearly 64% of total turnover
In contrast to the export trend, the value of Vietnam's imported goods in the first period of May 2025 reached 19.21 billion USD, up 6.2% (equivalent to an increase of 1.13 billion USD) compared to the second period of April 2025. Growth mainly came from groups of products serving production such as: computers, electronic products and components increased by 933 million USD (up 16.7%); fabrics of all kinds increased by 84 million USD (up 12.5%); machinery, equipment, tools and spare parts increased by 80 million USD (up 3.2%).
As of May 15, 2025, the total import value of the country reached 155.76 billion USD, up 17.4% (equivalent to an increase of 23.04 billion USD) over the same period in 2024. Of which, computers, electronic products and components increased by 13.26 billion USD (up 36.7%); machinery, equipment, tools and spare parts increased by 3.71 billion USD (up 22.6%).
The group of enterprises with FDI capital imported in this period reached US $ 13.9 billion, up 25.8% (equivalent to an increase of 2.85 billion USD) compared to the 2nd April 42025 period. From the beginning of the year to May 15, 2025, the import value of the FDI block reached US $ 99.23 billion, up 18.4% (equivalent to an increase of US $ 15.4 billion) compared to the same period in 2024, accounting for nearly 64% of the country's total import value.
