The Statistics Office under the Ministry of Finance has released its socio-economic report for August and the first eight months of 2026, showing that foreign trade continued to be a bright spot of the economy.

According to the report, total merchandise import and export turnover reached USD 109.7 billion in August, down 0.1% from the previous month but up 31.7% year on year. In the first eight months of 2026, total merchandise import and export turnover reached USD 770.14 billion, the highest-ever figure for the eight-month period, representing a year-on-year increase of 28.7%.

Merchandise exports reached USD 54.79 billion in August, up 3.2% from the previous month. In the first eight months of 2026, export turnover totaled USD 374.84 billion, up 22.4% year on year.

The domestic economic sector contributed USD 74.47 billion, up 7.4% and accounting for 19.9% of total export turnover. Meanwhile, the foreign-invested sector, including crude oil, recorded USD 300.37 billion, up 26.9% and accounting for 80.1% of total exports.

During the first eight months of 2026, 33 export products recorded turnover of more than USD 1 billion each, accounting for 93.6% of total export turnover. Of these, seven products posted export turnover of more than USD 10 billion each, accounting for 70.0% of the total.

Processed industrial products continued to dominate Viet Nam’s export structure, generating USD 337.99 billion and accounting for 90.2% of total export turnover. Agricultural and forestry products reached USD 26.65 billion, accounting for 7.1%; seafood exports totaled USD 8.0 billion, accounting for 2.1%; while fuel and mineral products reached USD 2.2 billion, accounting for 0.6%.

Merchandise imports reached USD 54.91 billion in August, down 3.1% from the previous month. In the first eight months of 2026, import turnover totaled USD 395.3 billion, up 35.3% year on year.

The domestic economic sector accounted for USD 105.07 billion, up 23.7%, while the foreign-invested sector recorded USD 290.23 billion, up 40.1%.

During the eight-month period, 43 import products recorded a value of more than USD 1 billion each, accounting for 93.9% of total import turnover. Three import products recorded values of more than USD 10 billion each, accounting for 55.5% of the total.

Imports of production inputs continued to increase as businesses sought to meet manufacturing demand ahead of the peak production season. The group recorded USD 372.04 billion, accounting for 94.1% of total import turnover.

In terms of export markets, the US remained Viet Nam’s largest export market in the first eight months of 2026, with export turnover reaching USD 122.0 billion.

China was Viet Nam’s largest import market, with import turnover reaching USD 161.9 billion.