State budget revenue from import-export rises over 10% in H1
Vietnam's trade balance in the first half of 2025 is estimated to show a surplus of 7.19 billion USD, a 40.6% decline compared to the figure recorded in the same period last year.
At the Huu Nghi International Border Gate in Lang Son province. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) - State budget revenue from import and export activities in the first half of 2025 reached nearly 222.75 trillion VND (8.5 billion USD), equivalent to 54.2% of the annual target and representing a 10.3% increase, or 20.87 trillion VND, compared to the same period in 2024, the Department of Vietnam Customs reported on July 3.
Trade value for goods over the six months is estimated at 431.49 billion USD, marking a year-on-year increase of 16% or 59.49 billion USD. Of this, export turnover is projected to reach 219.34 billion USD, up 14.2%, or 27.29 billion USD, while import value is estimated at 212.15 billion USD, up 17.9%, or 32.2 billion USD.
Vietnam's trade balance in the first half of 2025 is estimated to show a surplus of 7.19 billion USD, a 40.6% decline compared to the figure recorded in the same period last year.
According to the department, anti-smuggling operations have been intensified across all regions and routes.
Smuggling, trade fraud, illegal cross-border transport of goods, counterfeiting, and violations of intellectual property rights remain complicated and serious, with numerous major cases uncovered along border routes, at border gates, and in coastal areas. Key categories of contraband include petroleum, dietary supplements, milk products, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, tobacco, narcotics, gold, and goods falsely labelled as originating in Vietnam.
Maritime routes accounted for the highest proportion of violations — 53.2% of the total cases — mostly at major seaports. Offences involved misdeclaration of goods names, types, customs values, HS codes, and origin. Land routes frequently experienced smuggling and transport of goods without proper documents, particularly in central Vietnam and along the borders with Laos, China, and Cambodia. Contraband on these routes often included fireworks, refined sugar, frozen food, consumer goods, and cigarettes.
Illegal transport of narcotics, currency, and gold across borders is reportedly on the rise, with increasingly sophisticated methods, particularly via air routes.
Since the beginning of 2025, customs authorities have discovered 8,561 cases of customs law violations, with an estimated value of seized goods totalling approximately 13.61 trillion VND. The amount recovered for 𝔉the State budget stood at around 461.36 billion VND. The customs agency has initiated criminal proceedings in eight cases and transferred 54ܫ cases to other competent authorities with recommendations for prosecution./.
According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), export turnover alone is projected to reach 215–217 billion USD, up approximately 13.8–14%. This results in an estimated trade surplus of 3.4–4 billion USD.
The country's export earnings grew by 14% while its imports rose by 17.5%, resulting in a trade surplus of 4.67 billion USD during the five-month period.
Delegates said that room for economic cooperation between the two countries is still very large and not commensurate with the potential as well as the political and diplomatic relations, especially after the two countries upgraded their relationship to a Strategic Partnership in November 2024.
The shift towards large-scale, technology-based farming in Tay Ninh was catalysed by lessons learned from the limitations of traditional small-scale models.
The OCOP (One Commune, One Product) Export Products Fair, or Vietnam OCOPEX 2025, will feature 300 booths from over 150 enterprises displaying OCOP-certified products.
Secretary of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Anna Joubin-Bret praised Vietnam's active participation in UNCITRAL working groups, particularly during its first term from 2019-2025, and welcomed the country's re-election for the 2025-2031 term with high votes.
Covering nearly 70 ha, the Quang Duc Industrial Cluster will feature infrastructure including transportation, electricity, water supply, and wastewater treatment.
In June alone, the export turnover surged by 16.3% year-on-year. The domestic economic sector saw a decrease of 5.7%, while the foreign-invested sector, including crude oil, surged by 24.4%.
The CPI in June rose by 0.48% compared to the previous month, with urban areas up 0.5% and rural areas up 0.45%. The country’s June CPI climbed 3.57% year-on-year.
Agro-forestry-fishery expanded by 3.84%, industry and construction by 8.33%, and the services sector by 8.14%, contributing 5.59%, 42.4%, and 52.21%, respectively, to the overall growth.
The electricity production and distribution sector received the largest share of Vietnamese investment, with over 111.2 million USD, accounting for 22.8% of total overseas investment.
Newly registered capital accounted for nearly 9.3 billion USD across 1,988 new projects. Meanwhile, adjusted capital reached approximately 8.95 billion USD through 826 existing projects and investment via capital contributions and share purchases totalled nearly 3.3 billion USD.
The Vietnamese Government aims to have all administrative procedures related to businesses handled entirely online by the end of this year, regardless of administrative boundaries, according to Minister and Chairman of the Government Office Tran Van Son.
Starting July 3, members of Vietnam Airlines’ Lotusmiles frequent flyer programme can earn miles when flying with Etihad Airways and redeem them for flights operated by Vietnam Airlines, Etihad Airways, or any other partner airline within the programme.
Da Nang has forged partnerships with more than 22 Japanese localities, and Japan remains its top foreign investor, with 1.14 billion USD committed across 261 projects.
PepsiCo, the world’s second largest food and beverage company, has invested about 1 billion USD and now runs seven manufacturing plants and eight distribution centres in Vietnam, employing more than 15,000 locals.
Deputy PM Nguyen Chi Dung welcomed Erex’s efforts to bring biomass power technology to Vietnam, emphasising that its ongoing projects will make a positive contribution to the country’s energy sector and further deepen the cooperation between Vietnam and Japan.
The resolution also aims to create an attractive environment for investment in the financial service sector to promote investment attraction and the free movement of international capital between the International Financial Centre and the world; develop the stock and insurance markets, banking activities, fintech, digital assets, commodities, and e-commerce in Vietnam and integrate with international markets.
The same morning, he attended the Vietnam – Spain Business Foum where various cooperation initiatives from both nations were highlighted, including those in green transition, high-quality human resources training, supply chain development and Vietnam House Logistics Centre establishment.
Vietnam is a key partner for Bulgaria in Southeast Asia, with potential for future joint work in IT, innovation, green transition, digital transformation, high-tech agriculture, and pharmaceuticals.
The US has long been one of Vietnam’s top export markets, yet it remains highly regulated, with stringent technical standards, tariffs, and import procedures. The seminar will address key challenges faced by Vietnamese exporters, focusing on consumer trends, technical regulations, rules of origin, import duties, logistics, and cross-border e-commerce.
According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Brazil has long been Vietnam’s leading trade partner in Latin America. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1989, two-way trade has shown impressive growth.
