Keep up the pace to get exports to the "finish line" soon

In the first 8 months of 2025, Vietnam's exports reached more than 306 billion USD, with a surplus of nearly 14 billion USD, creating a solid foundation for growth throughout the year.

But to maintain the export pace and reach the finish line soon, the business community and authorities must work together to take advantage of the space of free trade agreements, expand markets, promote greening and digitalization of production, and increase resilience to global fluctuations.

Loading and unloading export goods at Hateco Hai Phong International Container Port.

Many potential challenges

In the first 8 months of 2025, our country's total import and export turnover reached nearly 600 billion USD, up 16.3% over the same period; exports alone reached 306 billion USD, up 14.8% and exceeding the annual target. The trade surplus was nearly 14 billion USD, contributing to strengthening macroeconomic stability. According to experts, this is an impressive result in the context of global economic uncertainty, trade conflicts and geopolitical fluctuations that have severely affected the international supply chain.

Notably, the United States continues to demonstrate its role as a key market in Vietnam's export turnover. According to Vietnam's Trade Counselor in the United States Do Ngoc Hung, in the first 7 months of 2025, bilateral trade turnover reached 114.5 billion USD, up 41% over the same period; of which Vietnam exported 106 billion USD, imported 8 billion USD, and had a trade surplus of 98 billion USD. Key commodity groups such as machinery, equipment, wood and wood products, textiles, and seafood all maintained high growth, with many items increasing from 15% to more than 100%. Ms. Do Thi Thu Huong, representative of the Vietnam Electronic Enterprises Association, said that the electronics industry continues to be the "locomotive" of Vietnam's exports. In 8 months, turnover reached 100 billion USD, accounting for more than 30% of the country's total exports, up 25% over the same period, with exports to the United States alone reaching 35 billion USD.

Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien emphasized that behind the positive export figures, there are still potential risks. That is, the global economy still has potential instability from geopolitical tensions, strategic competition between major powers, increasingly strict trade policies of the United States, or the risk of supply chain disruption. With an economy that is among the most open in the world, Vietnam cannot avoid the impact. Therefore, to achieve the export target of 12% increase for the whole year, the last 4 months of the year need to bring in at least 150 billion USD, equivalent to more than 37.5 billion USD per month, a challenging number.

Many solutions to promote sustainable exports

Producing garments for export at Son Ha Garment Joint Stock Company (Son Tay ward). Photo: Nguyen Quang

According to Ngo Chung Khanh, Deputy Director of the Multilateral Trade Policy Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade), although free trade agreements have brought many positive contributions, the reality shows that Vietnamese enterprises have not yet fully exploited the space that the agreements open up. To take advantage of this effectively, it is necessary to clearly define the goals for each market, which are the priority markets, which are the key products, and what is the specific growth rate. On that basis, trade offices, associations and enterprises must coordinate smoothly, delineate responsibilities, and avoid widespread and general implementation.

For the United States - the largest export market, there is still a lot of room but comes with many challenges in terms of tariff barriers, increasingly fierce trade defense investigations, strict quality standards, traceability and product transparency. Vietnamese enterprises that want to stand firm must improve their comprehensive competitiveness, from processing technology, quality, design to brand building. For China, exports have not yet met expectations because the country prioritizes domestic goods, strictly controls food safety, many batches of durian have been warned... The solution is that enterprises need to improve quality, ensure traceability, invest in processing technology, preservation, packaging, cold storage, and at the same time increase promotion in the northern and northwestern provinces of China. The Vietnam Trade Office here also committed to providing information, supporting customs clearance, and promoting Vietnamese goods at major fairs.

For the European Union (EU) market, the Vietnam - EU Free Trade Agreement is a big boost as more than 90% of tax lines have been reduced to 0%, opening up opportunities to diversify the market, reduce dependence on the United States and increase presence in Europe. However, the EU market also has many potential risks due to the risk of third-country goods taking advantage of Vietnam to evade taxes, tightening food safety, and extending self-defense measures on steel and alloys. According to Vietnamese Trade Counselor in Belgium and the EU Tran Ngoc Quan, in the short term, Vietnamese goods will still benefit, but in the long term, if they do not green production and meet environmental standards, it will be very difficult to maintain their position.

Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien affirmed that to maintain growth in the context of global uncertainty, there needs to be synchronous coordination between the State, the trade system, associations and localities. In particular, the sprint period from now until the end of the year requires market classification and specific task assignment. Accordingly, negative growth markets must restore orders and remove barriers; the average group maintains growth momentum; the high group continues to play the role of "locomotive", pulling the entire turnover up. Along with market expansion, it is necessary to increase the resilience of enterprises, participate in the digital trade promotion ecosystem, diversify supply chains, invest in green technology, and raise traceability standards. Industry associations need to become a "fulcrum", providing information, orienting the market, supporting brand building, etc.

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In August 2025, the total import and export turnover of goods reached 83.06 billion USD, up 0.9% over the previous month and up 16.0% over the same period in 2024. In the first 8 months of 2025, the total import and export turnover reached nearly 600 billion USD, up 16.3% over the same period; exports alone reached 306 billion USD, up 14.8%.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/giu-nhip-de-xuat-khau-som-ve-dich-716287.html