Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam enjoyed trade surplus of 809million USD in the first quarter of 2021, according to the General StatisticsOffice (GSO).
The office said that in March, import-export activitiesrecovered strongly with total value of 66.73 billion USD, up 36.8 percent overthe previous month and 14.7 percent year on year, with trade surplus of 1.39billion USD.
In the first quarter of this year, total trade value reached176.35 billion USD, up 14.4 percent year on year, including exports of 88.58billion USD. In the period, the domestic economic sector earned 23.27 billionUSD, a rise of 22 percent year on year, while the foreign-invested sector (includingcrude oil) enjoyed 65.31 billion USD, up 10 percent.
Export revenue of over 1 billion USD was seen in 15 export commodities, accounting for 80 percent of the country’s total. Processing-manufacturingproducts contributed 89 percent to the total exports, while contributions by agro-forestry products, fisheries, fuel and mining products were 6.9 percent, 2.7 percent, and 1.4 percent, respectively.
In the January-March period, the country imported 87.77billion USD, a rise of 15.9 percent over the same period last year, with 29.43billion USD by the domestic sector and 58.34 billion USD by foreign-investedsector. As many as 93.8 percent of the imported goods were materials serving production.
Vietnam enjoyed trade surplus of 809 million USD in the first quarter of 2021. (Photo: VNA)
In the first three months of this year, the US was the largestexport market of Vietnam, consuming 25.2 billion USD worth of goods. It wasfollowed by China with 27.6 billion USD.
In order to promote export activities in the time to come,the Ministry of Industry and Trade advised trade associations and businesses toapply preventive measures to avoid scams, while carefully choosing banks forpayment in the current period, and optimising advantages from 15 free tradeagreements between Vietnam and partners to diversify their markets.
The ministry has directed trade offices in European countriesto support businesses to switch import-export activities from Russia andUkraine to suitable markets in the region./.
Despite pandemic-caused difficulties, Vietnam still posted a trade surplus of 4 billion USD, an impressive achievement partly attributed to free trade agreements (FTAs), especially the new-generation ones.
Foreign trade of agricultural, forestry and aquatic products reached 14.2 billion USD in the first two months of 2022, a year-on-year increase of 15.8 percent, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
The southern province of Dong Nai enjoyed a trade surplus of over 1.5 billion USD in the first two months of 2022, the highest in the past three years, according to the provincial Statistics Office.
The southern province of Binh Duong enjoyed a trade surplus of 2 billion USD in the first two months this year, Vo Van Minh, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee has said.
The new Government decree also simplifies loan procedures while expanding credit incentives to include organic and circular agriculture, allowing them to access preferential terms similar to those of high-tech and value-chain based agricultural production.
Developed with state-of-the-art infrastructure, the Da Nang FTZ is designed to become a leading regional economic centre and a strategic growth pole in Vietnam’s new development landscape.
The Binh Duong Association of Supporting Industries (BASI) is expected to promote the usage of domestically manufactured components while supporting businesses in accessing international markets, strengthening linkages, and promoting deeper integration into global supply chains.
PwC Vietnam forecasts a vibrant M&A market in Vietnam’s healthcare sector in 2025, driven by rising demand for high-quality medical services and a growing middle class. Pharmaceutical companies, private hospitals, and specialised medical facilities, particularly in ophthalmology and oncology, are predicted to be key targets for M&A.
The central province of Quang Nam is set to become a hub for the medicinal plant industry, with Ngoc Linh ginseng designated as the core crop, under the Prime Minister's decision issued earlier this year.
The North-South Expressway project is scheduled for completion by 2030, aiming to establish the groundwork for Vietnam’s modern railway industry and stimulate regional economic development, positioning the country for a significant economic leap in the era of national rise.
The probe, initiated on June 11 following a petition by the US Coalition for Fair Trade in Hardwood Plywood, targets products classified under HS Code 4412 and 9403 imported from China, Indonesia and Vietnam.
Sun PhuQuoc Airways was born as a perfect piece in Sun Group’s strategic vision to build a premium ecosystem of tourism, entertainment, real estate, and aviation. With a pioneering ambition, Sun PhuQuoc Airways is not just an airline, but a symbol of connection – bringing the world to Phu Quoc and taking Phu Quoc to the world.
A key change in the draft decree is a provision requiring bank transfers for gold transactions valued at 20 million VND (765 USD) and above, to enhance transparency and verify customer identities.
In the first four months of 2025, trade turnover between Vietnam and Cambodia surpassed 3 billion USD, marking a 7% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
On June 19 alone, a total of 2,005 trucks completed customs clearance at Lang Son’s border gates — the highest single-day figure ever recorded in the province. Of these, 634 carried exports and 1,371 imports.
The OECD Economic Surveys: Vietnam 2025 report focuses on analysing the country’s macroeconomic fundamentals, the impact of international integration on attracting foreign investment and trade, and the country’s prospects for developing a low-carbon economy.
Antoine Colin, Senior Vice President for Global Supply Chain Digital Transformation & Resilience at HP Inc., affirmed HP’s strategic commitment to building a supply chain and ecosystem in Vietnam and the region.
Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT)’s Trade Promotion Agency Bui Quang Hung emphasised that logistics has evolved from a technical function into a core capability for Vietnamese exporters to maintain their competitive advantage in the US market.
A trade official has suggested companies work closely with shipping lines, airlines, and freight forwarders to monitor routes, transit times, and potential surcharges while exploring broader cargo insurance to cover risks like war and terrorism.
In addition to institutional reform, the agency is also rolling out key solution groups to combat counterfeit goods, imitations, and intellectual property infringements in the digital environment.
The event, co-organised by the Vietnam Trade Office in the UK and TT Meridian, a local importer of Vietnamese fresh produce, aims to build a national lychee brand and encourage broader recognition of Vietnamese fruits in a competitive, high-end market.
The industry's performance has been powered by bold investments in modern production lines, enabling Vietnamese firms to produce complicated products which were exclusive to advanced economies.
Illustrative image (Source: VNA) 
Vietnam enjoyed trade surplus of 809 million USD in the first quarter of 2021. (Photo: VNA) 
