Vietnam’s total merchandise trade reached US$155.7 billion in the first two months of 2026, an increase of 22.2 percent compared with the same period last year. Exports rose 18.3 percent while imports increased 26.3 percent, resulting in a trade deficit of US$2.98 billion, according to the latest release from the National Statistics Office.
In February alone, total merchandise exports and imports reached US$67.16 billion, down 24.1 percent from the previous month but up 5.1 percent year-on-year. Exports totalled US$33.06 billion, while imports reached US$34.1 billion.
For the first two months of the year, merchandise exports were valued at US$76.36 billion. The domestic sector accounted for US$15.96 billion, down 12.0 percent year-on-year, while the foreign-invested sector, including crude oil, generated US$60.4 billion, up 30.1 percent and representing 79.1 percent of total exports.
Thirteen export product categories recorded turnover exceeding US$1 billion during the period. Electronics, computers and components led exports at US$17.69 billion, followed by phones and components at US$11.15 billion, machinery and equipment at US$9.29 billion, and textiles and garments at US$5.7 billion.
Processed industrial goods dominated the export structure, accounting for US$68.55 billion or 89.8 percent of total exports. Agricultural and forestry products generated US$5.8 billion, aquatic products reached US$1.72 billion, and fuels and minerals accounted for US$0.29 billion.
Imports in the first two months of 2026 reached US$79.34 billion. The domestic sector accounted for US$22.47 billion, down 1.5 percent year-on-year, while the foreign-invested sector imported US$56.87 billion, up 42.2 percent.
Sixteen imported items recorded turnover exceeding US$1 billion. Electronics, computers and components led imports at US$29.87 billion, followed by machinery, equipment, tools and spare parts at US$9.96 billion.
Production materials accounted for the majority of imports, reaching US$74.67 billion or 94.1 percent of total imports. Consumer goods accounted for US$4.67 billion, representing 5.9 percent.
The United States remained Vietnam’s largest export market with turnover of US$23.8 billion during the first two months of the year. China was the largest source of imports at US$31.9 billion.
Vietnam recorded a trade surplus of US$20.4 billion with the United States and US$6.7 billion with the European Union. However, the country ran trade deficits with several major partners, including US$20.9 billion with China, US$6.5 billion with South Korea and US$2.6 billion with ASEAN.
The domestic economic sector recorded a trade deficit of US$6.5 billion during the period, while the foreign-invested sector posted a surplus of US$3.52 billion.