Manufacturing & Industry
This category focuses on industrial production, from electronics and textiles to automotive and heavy industry. It covers FDI trends, supply chain developments, factory expansions, and government regulations shaping the industrial landscape. As a key driver of economic growth, manufacturing plays a crucial role in global supply chains, technological advancements, and industrial competitiveness.
Renewables: Vietnam’s Boviet Solar opens US$294 million solar module plant in North Carolina
Vietnamese firm Boviet Solar has opened its first US manufacturing facility in Greenville, North Carolina, with an investment of US$294 million. The plant will produce photovoltaic modules for residential, commercial, and utility-scale markets, Energy Tech has reported.
Steel: Hoa Phat says U.S. tariffs unlikely to impact Vietnam exports directly
US Section 232 tariffs already apply to Vietnamese steel and will not be expanded, Hoa Phat CEO Nguyen Viet Thang has told Financial Street as reported by The Investor.
Semiconductors: Vietnam begins construction of first fully locally led chip factory
CT Semiconductor has broken ground on Vietnam’s first chip plant developed entirely with Vietnamese technology. The factory aims to produce 100 million chips annually by 2027, with operations starting in Q4 2025, VietnamNet has reported.
Vietnam FDI by Sector: March Update [data set] : Projects, Capital
Vietnam added another 334 new foreign direct invested projects in March, along with just over US$4.01 billion in additional capital commitments, according to data from Vietnam’s Ministry of Planning and Investment. The biggest gains were in manufacturing and processing which added 123 new projects and US$1.17 billion in capital commitments.
Vietnam’s imports of motor vehicle parts rose nearly 17 percent in March
Vietnam imported US$480.83 million worth of parts and accessories of motor vehicles in March, up 16.78 percent from February, according to Vietnam’s General Department of Customs. The year-to-date import value stood at US$1.27 billion.
Vietnam’s rolled steel output down 1.8 percent year-on-year in Q1
Vietnam’s rolled steel production reached 1,136,300 tons in March, up from 1,065,100 tons in February, but 3 percent lower than the same month last year. Total output for the first quarter stood at 3,340,700 tons, reflecting a 1.8 percent year-on-year decline, according to data from the General Statistics Office.
Automotive: Vietnam’s luxury car market reaches US$1.9 billion, slow growth projected through 2033
Vietnam’s luxury car market reached a valuation of US$1.9 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow modestly to US$2.1 billion by 2033, according to a new report by IMARC Group. Rising affluence, urban expansion, and social status-driven purchases are supporting demand, though the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) is expected to remain low at 1.15 percent.
Energy: Vietnam PM pushes for US$6 billion gas deal with US to stabilise trade
Vietnam’s Prime Minister has ordered urgent negotiations to finalise a US$6 billion methanol gas import agreement with the United States, framing it as a cornerstone of efforts to balance trade and defuse tariff tensions. The PM has said he expects a deal to be finalised in May, according to Cafe F.
Vietnam’s petroleum product exports surge 65.74 percent in March
Vietnam exported petroleum products worth US$117.75 million in March, a 65.74 percent increase from February, according to data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs.
Vietnam’s bamboo and rattan exports rise by 39.20 percent in March
Vietnam’s bamboo and rattan exports surged by 39.20 percent in March compared to February, reaching US$78.44 million, according to data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs.
Vietnam’s paper imports rose nearly 17 percent in March
Vietnam imported US$217.13 million worth of paper in March, a 16.95 percent increase from February, according to Vietnam’s General Department of Customs. The total import value for the first three months of the year reached US$557.21 million.
Vietnam’s crude steel output slips 0.1 percent year-on-year in Q1
Vietnam’s crude steel production reached 1,705,300 tons in March, up from 1,618,400 tons in February, marking a 1.0 percent increase compared to March 2024. However, total output for the first quarter stood at 4,928,200 tons, reflecting a slight 0.1 percent decline year-on-year, according to data from the General Statistics Office.
Transport costs fall sharply in March on lower fuel prices and post-holiday demand drop
Vietnam’s transport consumer price index (CPI) fell by 1.41% in March 2025, contributing significantly to the overall decline in inflation. The drop was led by falling fuel prices and lower public transport demand following the Lunar New Year, according to data from the General Statistics Office.
Electricity: Vietnam releases generation price framework for solar power
Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade has officially announced its electricity generation price framework. The Decision, effective upon signing, establishes maximum electricity generation prices (excluding VAT) for both solar power plants without and with battery storage systems, differentiated by region (North, Central, and South).
Vietnam’s cement output up 4.0 percent year-on-year in Q1
Vietnam’s cement production reached 14.4 million tons in March, up from 11.1 million tons in February, showing a 1.5 percent increase compared to March 2024. Total output for the first quarter stood at 36.9 million tons, up 4.0 percent year-on-year, according to data from the General Statistics Office.
Vietnam’s pastry and cereal exports up 23.55 percent in March
Vietnam’s exports of pastry, sweets and cereal products rose 23.55 percent month-on-month in March, reaching US$107.91 million, according to data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs.
Banking: BIDV flags risk to US$11.6 billion credit portfolio from US tariffs
At its 2025 annual general meeting, BIDV Chairman Phan Duc Tu warned that US “reciprocal” tariffs could affect around VND 300 trillion (US$11.58 billion) of the bank’s outstanding loans, representing 15 percent of its total credit balance. Industries most at risk include steel, plastics, seafood, textiles, and electronics, Cafe F is reporting.
Vietnam’s rubber product imports rose nearly 17 percent in March
Vietnam imported US$103.89 million worth of rubber products in March, up 16.64 percent from February, according to Vietnam’s General Department of Customs. This brought the year-to-date total to US$274.52 million.
Vietnam’s motor vehicle imports rose nearly 18 percent in March
Vietnam imported US$445.12 million worth of motor vehicles in March, up 17.87 percent from February, according to Vietnam’s General Department of Customs. This brought total imports for the first quarter to US$982.60 million.
Vietnam’s leather footwear output up 9.1 percent year-on-year in Q1
Vietnam’s production of leather shoes and sandals reached 28.4 million pairs in March, up from 26.6 million pairs in February, marking an 8.9 percent increase compared to March 2024. Total output for the first quarter stood at 80.9 million pairs, up 9.1 percent year-on-year, according to data from the General Statistics Office.
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