Total merchandise import and export turnover in the first half of September 2026 reached approximately $54.86 billion, up 4.85% from the first half of August, according to recently-revealed preliminary data from the Vietnam Customs.
Cumulatively, as of September 15, total merchandise trade stood at over $825 billion, an increase of 29.44% year on year.
Notably, the increase in total trade turnover during the period was driven mainly by imports. Export turnover reached over $26 billion, up 2.4%, while imports stood at $28.84 billion, rising by as much as 7.16%. The difference in growth rates indicates that import demand is recovering faster than exports, continuing to put pressure on the trade balance in the short term.
On the export side, the 2.4% increase in the first half of September further shows that growth momentum remains heavily concentrated in a number of key product groups.
Computers, electronic products and components stood out as the strongest performer. Export turnover for this group reached approximately $9.57 billion, up 30.62% from the first half of August.
Without the sharp increase in this product group, export turnover would likely have declined, as a number of other major export categories recorded simultaneous decreases.
On the import side, the 7.16% increase was also driven largely by higher imports of components, raw materials and other goods used in production. The main source of momentum continued to be the processing and manufacturing sector. However, a notable development was that import growth for some production inputs was considerably higher than the growth in exports of finished products.
Computers, electronic products and components continued to be the largest import category, with import turnover reaching approximately $13.12 billion, up 3.06%.
This represents a relatively positive development when compared with the performance of the same product group on the export side, where turnover surged 30.62%. Machinery, equipment, tools and other spare parts showed a similar pattern. Imports increased 4.79%, while exports rose 9.47%, adding nearly $294.6 million.
In contrast, imports of phones and components increased 9.17%, while exports fell sharply by 20.41%. The rise in inputs alongside declining output could be related to a lag between the import of components and the completion of orders, changes in product composition, or differences in production and delivery cycles. However, if this situation persists, the ability to absorb imported inputs will become a factor requiring close monitoring.
Particularly notable was the 26.88% increase in fabric imports, while textile and garment exports fell 17.40%. This points to a clear mismatch between input and output stages in the textile and garment industry during the period.
Google translate