Bustling border gates in the early days of the year

Right from the first moments of 2026, trade activities at northern border gates have taken place vibrantly with an urgent pace, forecasting a favorable year for foreign trade operations. In the provinces of Quang Ninh, Lang Son, and Lao Cai, the stable flow of goods through strategic import and export locations has reflected a strong recovery in market demand while demonstrating the determination of businesses and regulatory authorities to maintain growth momentum right from the beginning of the year.

In Quang Ninh, customs clearance at the Bac Luan II border gate in Mong Cai was carried out effectively starting from January 1, 2026. To ensure a continuous cross-border supply chain, functional forces maintained their working schedule throughout the holiday period and provided the most favorable conditions for businesses. By applying a pre-appointment mechanism alongside scientific operational processes, dozens of trucks carrying frozen goods for export and electronic components for import completed procedures within the first morning of the year. By the end of the day, import export turnover through the Mong Cai International Border Gate reached a recorded value of approximately USD 20 million.

At the Tan Thanh border gate in Lang Son province, import and export activities also recorded many positive signals. Right on the first day of the year, customs authorities cleared more than 480 trucks with a total turnover exceeding USD 42 million. Among these, agricultural products remained the primary export commodity while imports focused on machinery for production. This growth momentum continued as the volume of goods on January 2 rose sharply, with turnover projected to reach approximately USD 45 million.

In the Lao Cai area, trade activities between Vietnam and China maintained a stable pace. On the first day of the year, Lao Cai border gate customs received 181 declarations and served nearly 400 vehicle turns for import and export with a total turnover of over USD 3 million. Inspection work at the Kim Thanh International Land Border Gate No. II was deployed synchronously to shorten document processing times, facilitating agricultural exports to partner markets and ensuring the supply of equipment for domestic production. These factual figures serve as a testament to administrative reform efforts and the spirit of business support among functional forces.

From 2025 achievements to 2026 export expectations

The bustling start at border gates in 2026 serves as an important continuation based on the impressive achievements accumulated by Vietnam’s import and export sector. Looking back at the 2021 to 2025 period, the nation's total export turnover reached a record high of over USD 1.940 trillion. Notably, the most significant milestone was recorded in 2025 when Vietnam officially established an import-export turnover mark of over USD 900 billion, a proud figure compared to the USD 100 billion milestone in 2007 when the country had just joined the WTO.

The structure of export commodities in the recent period has undergone a powerful shift toward technologization. The electronics, computers, and telephones group continues to maintain its leading role with turnover values reaching hundreds of billions of USD, alongside the stable growth of traditional sectors such as textiles, garments, and footwear. These achievements were attained amidst a global trade landscape facing numerous barriers from protectionist trends and risks of supply chain disruptions, affirming Vietnam's adaptive capacity and position on the international trade map.

Entering 2026, despite global trade prospects remaining fraught with risks from geopolitical conflicts and declining consumption, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has set determined growth targets. Specifically, export turnover in 2026 is projected to increase by over 8 percent compared to 2025, with a trade surplus target of approximately USD 25 billion. To realize these expectations, the Ministry of Industry and Trade emphasizes focusing on industrial restructuring and shifting from raw material exports to products with high added value and advanced technology.

The overarching strategy for 2026 will be to maximize the advantages of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), diversify export markets, and enhance trade defense capabilities. Positive signals from the very first days of the year, alongside the solid foundation already established, are expected to help Vietnam's import and export sector continue its breakthrough and maintain its role as a key driver for national economic growth in the new journey.