According to the General Statistics Office, the total import-export turnover of goods in the first 8 months of 2026 reached 770.14 billion USD, the highest ever, an increase of 28.7% compared to the same period last year. The trade balance of goods recorded a trade deficit of 20.46 billion USD.
In August alone, the total import-export turnover of goods was estimated at 109.7 billion USD, a slight decrease of 0.1% compared to the previous month but an increase of 31.7% compared to the same period in 2025.
Export turnover in the month reached 54.79 billion USD, up 3.2% compared to the previous month and 26% compared to the same period. Of which, the domestic economic sector reached 10.5 billion USD, up 2.2%; the foreign-invested sector, including crude oil, reached 44.29 billion USD, up 3.4%.
Conversely, import turnover in August reached 54.91 billion USD, down 3.1% compared to the previous month but up 37.9% compared to the same period. The domestic economic sector reached 12.82 billion USD, down 7.1%; the foreign-invested sector reached 42.09 billion USD, down 1.8%. The trade balance of goods in the month recorded a trade deficit of 0.12 billion USD.
Cumulatively for 8 months, export turnover of goods was estimated at 374.84 billion USD, up 22.4% compared to the same period last year. The domestic economic sector reached 74.47 billion USD, up 7.4%, accounting for 19.9% of the total turnover; the foreign-invested sector, including crude oil, reached 300.37 billion USD, up 26.9%, accounting for 80.1%.
There were 33 items with export turnover exceeding 1 billion USD, accounting for 93.6% of the total export turnover, of which 7 items exceeded 10 billion USD, accounting for 70%.
By commodity group structure, processed industrial products continued to play a pivotal role with a turnover of 337.99 billion USD, accounting for 90.2%. Agricultural and forestry products reached 26.65 billion USD, accounting for 7.1%; aquatic products reached 8 billion USD, accounting for 2.1%; fuel and minerals reached 2.2 billion USD, accounting for 0.6%.
Import turnover for 8 months was estimated at 395.3 billion USD, up 35.3% compared to the same period. Of which, the domestic economic sector reached 105.07 billion USD, up 23.7%; the foreign-invested sector reached 290.23 billion USD, up 40.1%.
There were 43 imported items valued at over 1 billion USD, accounting for 93.9% of the total turnover, of which 3 items reached over 10 billion USD, accounting for 55.5%.
The group of production materials reached 372.04 billion USD, accounting for 94.1% of the total import turnover. Of which, machinery, equipment, tools, and spare parts accounted for 57.6%; raw materials, fuels, and materials accounted for 36.5%. The group of consumer goods reached 23.26 billion USD, accounting for 5.9%.
The United States continued to be Vietnam's largest export market with a turnover of 122 billion USD, while China was the largest import market with 161.9 billion USD.
Vietnam recorded a trade surplus with the United States of 106.6 billion USD, up 22.7% compared to the same period; with the European Union, it reached 31.4 billion USD, up 22.8%; with Japan, it reached 2.4 billion USD, up 58%.
Conversely, Vietnam recorded a trade deficit with China of 107.7 billion USD, up 41.7%; with South Korea of 37.8 billion USD, up 89.4%; and with ASEAN of 13.5 billion USD, up 43.4%.
Cumulatively for 8 months, the trade balance of goods shifted to a trade deficit of 20.46 billion USD, contrary to the trade surplus of 14.02 billion USD in the same period last year. The domestic economic sector recorded a trade deficit of 30.6 billion USD, while the foreign-invested sector, including crude oil, recorded a trade surplus of 10.14 billion USD.
The increasing pressure from the trade deficit was mainly due to high import costs in some key commodity groups. Electronics, computers, and components reached 60.6 billion USD; petroleum 7.4 billion USD; plastics 6.7 billion USD; various types of coal 6.2 billion USD; crude oil 5.3 billion USD; chemical products and chemicals both reached 3.9 billion USD.
Procedures
