The projection was announced on Friday by Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Phan Thi Thang, at a conference reviewing the sector’s performance. She said that as of Dec. 15, Vietnam’s combined import-export value had already climbed to US$883.7 billion.
Exports are expected to increase 16% compared with 2024, reaching about US$470 billion. Vietnam has recorded a trade surplus for 10 straight years since 2016, providing a steady inflow of foreign currency, easing exchange-rate pressure, and helping bolster national foreign exchange reserves.
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A fisherman holds a fish in Binh Thuan in March 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Viet Quoc |
Vietnam’s trade turnover has posted continuous growth in recent years. From the $100 billion milestone in 2009, total trade turnover has increased ninefold.
The number of export items generating more than $1 billion has also risen sharply, from 10 items in 2007 to 36 at present.
Export markets have continued to expand, with the number of markets posting turnover of more than $1 billion rising from 27 in 2013 to 35 by the end of last year.
Manufacturing activities have been expanding. The industrial production index is estimated at 9.5%, higher than the 8.2% recorded in 2024.
Vietnam signed four new free trade agreements this year, bringing the total to 17 with 65 countries and territories.
The size of the e-commerce market surpassed $30 billion for the first time this year. Vietnam has also maintained its position as 32nd globally in terms of national brand value.
However, Thang noted that while exports have been growing, they remain unsustainable, with foreign direct investment accounting for a large share.
Vietnam still depends heavily on several major markets and faces pressure from trade defense investigations and origin fraud. Meanwhile, the development of the domestic market and e-commerce activities remains limited.
Speaking at the meeting, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh reaffirmed the government’s ambition to achieve double-digit economic growth in the coming years. He said the industry and trade sector must post growth of more than 10% by revitalizing traditional growth drivers while pushing into new markets.
