Impressive Trade Growth

According to the latest report from the Vietnam Trade Office in Germany, two-way trade between the two countries reached USD 7.76 billion by the end of July 2025, up 15.4% compared to the same period in 2024. Vietnam exported USD 5.5 billion to Germany (up 19.6%) and imported USD 2.26 billion (up 6.4%). These figures reaffirm Germany’s status as Vietnam’s number-one trading partner in Europe and a vital gateway for Vietnamese goods to enter the broader EU market.

Agricultural and aquatic products were among the fastest-growing exports in the first seven months of 2025, reaching USD 1.25 billion an increase of 69.2%. Coffee alone accounted for USD 870.7 million (up 101.9%), followed by seafood at USD 121 million (up 10.3%), cashews at USD 106.7 million (up 37%), pepper at USD 82 million (up 43.3%), and fruits and vegetables at USD 47 million (up 25%).

Manufactured goods also saw strong growth, with exports totaling USD 3.74 billion (up 8.5%). Key segments included computers and components (USD 647 million, up 23%), machinery and equipment (USD 815 million, up 11.4%), textiles (USD 532.9 million, up 20.9%), and footwear (USD 437.8 million, up 1.4%).

These statistics highlight how the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) has significantly boosted the competitiveness of Vietnam’s agricultural and traditional exports in Germany, while manufacturing continues to serve as a cornerstone of trade.

On the import side, Vietnam mainly purchased high-tech goods and pharmaceuticals from Germany. In the first seven months of 2025, machinery and components accounted for USD 834 million (up 12.2%), pharmaceuticals for USD 254 million (up 29.8%), chemicals for USD 177.9 million (down 34%), and computers/components for USD 108.3 million (up 27.2%).

Vietnam’s Trade Counselor in Germany, Ms. Dang Thi Thanh Phuong, noted that the figures reflect a clearly complementary relationship Vietnam exports agricultural and manufactured goods where it has advantages, while Germany supplies technology, machinery, and pharmaceuticals that support Vietnam’s value chain upgrades.

EVFTA as a Catalyst for Deeper Integration

According to Ms. Phuong, the EVFTA, which took effect on August 1, 2020, has served as a major catalyst for rapid growth in investment and trade between the two sides.

Under the agreement, the EU pledged to immediately remove 85.6% of tariff lines, equivalent to 70.3% of Vietnam’s exports to the EU, with 99.2% of tariff lines to be eliminated after seven years. In return, Vietnam committed to removing 48.5% of tariff lines upon enforcement, increasing to 98.3% within 10 years.

In practice, this has created substantial opportunities for Vietnam’s key sectors to capitalize on tariff elimination. This is particularly evident in products like coffee, seafood, cashews, and tea, which have experienced remarkable growth.

For example, Vietnam’s coffee exports to the EU jumped 120% from USD 983 million in 2020 to USD 2.2 billion in 2024. Fruit and vegetable exports rose 65.6% (from USD 146 million to USD 242 million), and footwear grew 52.4% (from USD 3.7 billion to USD 5.65 billion).

“These results show that Vietnamese enterprises especially large ones have effectively leveraged EVFTA advantages by improving quality, complying with origin rules, and building sustainable brands,” said Ms. Phuong.

However, many high-value products such as processed agricultural goods, seafood, household items, and value-added goods have yet to reach their full potential in Germany. Key obstacles include strict technical standards, complex origin requirements, and outdated market access strategies by many Vietnamese companies.

The Road Ahead: Strategic Mindset and Green-Thinking, looking ahead, the EVFTA will enter its comprehensive implementation phase, with most tariffs set to drop to zero. This offers Vietnamese firms a significant head start-up to seven years over competitors from countries without an FTA with the EU. “If we don’t fully utilize this advantage, we risk losing it to others,” Counselor Dang Thi Thanh Phuong warned.

She emphasized that the EU is a structured and demanding market, requiring transparency, safety, and sustainability. Vietnamese businesses must invest in long-term plans, shift to modern marketing approaches, and prepare for environmental regulations, recycling rates, and low-emission standards. A “green” mindset and long-term strategy will be critical for navigating this next phase of the EVFTA.

Moreover, Vietnamese enterprises must innovate their branding strategies in Germany using the support of trade offices and industry associations to enhance product visibility and market share. At the same time, they must anticipate market fluctuations and act quickly to seize the EVFTA benefits before competitors catch up.

The trade relationship between Vietnam and Germany is on a strong upward trajectory, with the EVFTA unlocking substantial new opportunities. Yet these opportunities will only translate into competitive advantages with strategic, sustainable, and well-executed business efforts.

Germany is not only Vietnam’s top trade partner in Europe but also a “golden gateway” to the entire EU market. It is time for Vietnamese firms to view this not just as a sales destination, but as a strategic stage for elevating national branding.

By the end of July 2025, two-way trade turnover reached USD 7.76 billion, an increase of 15.4% compared to the first 7 months of 2024. Vietnam exported USD 5.5 billion to Germany (up 19.6%) and imported USD 2.26 billion from Germany (up 6.4%).

These figures show that Germany continues to be Vietnam's number 1 trading partner in Europe and is an important "gateway" for Vietnamese goods to penetrate the EU market.