Vietnam’s imports from Argentina rose slightly in September while exports to the South American country dropped sharply, according to the latest data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs.
This saw Vietnam’s trade deficit with Argentina jump 12.14 percent in September.
Trade balance
Vietnam’s trade deficit with Argentina widened in September, as exports dropped 33.03 percent month-on-month to US$55.34 million, while imports edged up 1.69 percent to US$363.22 million.
The monthly deficit rose 12.14 percent to US$307.88 million, bringing the year-to-date shortfall to US$1.94 billion.
Vietnam–Argentina trade balance, US$millions
| September | August | Change | YTD | |
| Imports | 363.22 | 357.19 | 1.69% | 2,713.97 |
| Exports | 55.34 | 82.64 | -33.03% | 772.05 |
| Total | 418.56 | 439.82 | -4.83% | 3,486.02 |
| Balance (Vietnam) | -307.88 | -274.55 | 12.14% | -1,941.92 |
Exports
Vietnam’s top exports to Argentina in September were telephones and parts (US$20.14 million), computers and electronic products (US$10.69 million), and footwear (US$9.21 million).
Exports of phones and parts dropped 28.57 percent from August, while computers and components fell by more than half.
Only machinery and equipment saw strong growth, up 66.62 percent month on month.
Year-to-date, telephones remain the leading export item at US$366.66 million, followed by footwear at US$131.64 million.
The following table lists the ten largest export categories to Argentina, showing their values in September and August, along with monthly percentage changes and cumulative year-to-date totals.
Vietnam’s top 10 exports to Argentina, US$millions
| September | August | Change | YTD | |
| Telephones, mobile phones and parts thereof | 20.14 | 28.20 | -28.57% | 366.66 |
| Computers, electrical products, and spare-parts | 10.69 | 21.86 | -51.10% | 128.40 |
| Footwear | 9.21 | 16.07 | -42.73% | 131.64 |
| Other products | 5.08 | 6.64 | -23.53% | 56.81 |
| Machine, equipment, tools and instruments | 3.87 | 2.32 | 66.62% | 28.92 |
| Textiles and garments | 2.97 | 3.84 | -22.59% | 26.94 |
| Textile, leather and footwear materials | 2.29 | 2.62 | -12.65% | 21.57 |
| Handbags, purses, suitcases, and headgear | 0.57 | 0.57 | 0.00% | 4.15 |
| Iron and steel | 0.27 | 0.06 | 342.38% | 2.81 |
| Rubber | 0.16 | 0.30 | -47.49% | 1.67 |
| Other | 0.10 | 0.15 | -35.99% | 2.47 |
Imports
Maize remained the top import at US$180.61 million, down 8.63 percent, followed by animal feed and materials at US$154.47 million, up 15.17 percent.
Imports of pharmaceutical products surged 893 percent to US$826,000, while wood products fell 31.79 percent to US$1.66 million.
Year-to-date imports reached US$3.49 billion, led by feed ingredients and maize, underscoring the dominance of agricultural inputs in Vietnam’s trade with this partner.
Vietnam’s top 10 imports from Argentina, US$millions
| September | August | Change | YTD | |
| Maize (corn) | 180.61 | 197.67 | -8.63% | 1,127.65 |
| Animal fodders and animal fodder materials | 154.47 | 134.12 | 15.17% | 1,339.50 |
| Other products | 19.14 | 16.28 | 17.59% | 159.32 |
| Cotton | 4.18 | 3.53 | 18.21% | 26.40 |
| Textile, leather and footwear materials | 2.33 | 2.97 | -21.67% | 30.47 |
| Wood and wooden products | 1.66 | 2.44 | -31.79% | 14.98 |
| Pharmaceutical products | 0.83 | 0.08 | 893.27% | 5.08 |
| Animal, vegetable fats and oils | 0.00 | 0.09 | -100.00% | 0.11 |
| Soya beans | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00% | 10.47 |
Of note, Vietnam and Argentina maintain a trade relationship heavily weighted towards agricultural imports and technology exports.
Argentina remains one of Vietnam’s largest suppliers of maize, soybeans, and animal feed, while Vietnam exports mainly manufactured and electronic goods.
See also: How to Source & Import Products from Vietnam 2025: A Complete Guide
Correction: An earlier version of this article had September and August imports the wrong way around. This has been corrected.