Vietnam Trade Balance Swings to Deficit

Vietnam recorded a trade deficit of USD 2.64 billion in June 2026, shifting from a surplus of USD 3.2 billion in the same month a year earlier. Exports grew 28.1% year-on-year to a record high of USD 50.79 billion, while imports rose at a faster pace of 45.2% to a record high of USD 53.43 billion. For the first half of the year, the country posted a USD 16.65 billion trade deficit, with exports rising 21.0% yoy to USD 266.52 billion, and imports surging 33.4% to USD 283.17 billion. During the period, exports of processed industrial goods were estimated at USD 239.8 billion, accounting for 90.0% of total exports. The US remained the largest export market, with exports estimated at USD 86.5 billion. Meanwhile, imports of production materials were estimated at USD 266.4 billion, accounting for 94.1% of total imports. China remained the largest source of imports, with import turnover estimated at USD 115.2 billion.

Vietnam recorded a trade deficit of USD 5.21 billion in May 2026, shifting from a surplus of USD 0.62 billion in the same month a year earlier and marking the largest trade deficit since records began in 1990. Exports grew 18.0% yoy to a record peak of USD 46.93 billion, while imports rose at a faster pace of 33.8% to a record high of USD 52.14 billion. For the first five months of the year, the country posted a USD 13.8 billion trade deficit, with exports rising 19.5% yoy to USD 215.66 billion, and imports surging 30.8% to USD 229.46 billion. During the period, exports of processed industrial goods were estimated at USD 193.71 billion, accounting for 89.8% of total exports. The US remained the largest export market, with exports estimated at USD 69.6 billion. Meanwhile, imports of production materials were estimated at USD 215.99 billion, accounting for 94.1% of total imports. China remained the largest source of imports, with import turnover estimated at USD 92.6 billion.

Vietnam posted a trade deficit of USD 3.28 billion in April 2026, shifting from a surplus of USD 0.90 billion in the same month a year earlier. It marked the largest trade gap since December 1996, as imports rose faster than exports. Exports rose 21% from a year earlier to USD 45.52 billion, while imports grew faster at 32.5% to a record high of USD 48.8 billion. For the first four months of the year, the country recorded a USD 7.11 billion trade deficit, with exports rising 19.7% year-on-year to USD 168.53 billion, and imports advancing 28.7% to USD 175.64 billion. During the period, processed industrial goods were estimated at USD 151.5 billion, accounting for 89.9% of total exports. The US remained the largest export market, with an estimated value of USD 53.9 billion. Meanwhile, production materials were estimated at USD 165.37 billion, accounting for 94.2% of total imports. China remained the largest import market.