In the first six months of the year, Vietnam recorded a trade deficit of $16.65 billion.

According to the socio-economic report for the second quarter and the first six months of 2026, released on July 3rd by the General Statistics Office (Ministry of Finance), the total value of goods exports and imports in June reached US$104.22 billion, an increase of 5.2% compared to the previous month and a 36.3% increase compared to the same period last year.

Loading and unloading export goods at Hai Phong International Container Port. Photo: Vu Sinh/TTXVN

Overall, in the first six months of 2026, total merchandise exports and imports reached US$549.69 billion, an increase of 27.1% compared to the same period last year; of which, exports increased by 21%; and imports increased by 33.4%. The trade balance showed a deficit of US$16.65 billion.

"The fact that imports are growing faster than exports shows that the economy 's demand for inputs continues to expand; at the same time, it reflects a strong recovery in production activities, especially in areas with foreign investment," said Nguyen Thu Oanh, Head of the Service and Price Statistics Department, General Statistics Office.

Specifically, merchandise exports in June 2026 reached US$50.79 billion, an increase of 8.2% compared to the previous month; of which, the domestic economic sector accounted for US$10.01 billion, an increase of 10.5%; and the foreign-invested sector (including crude oil) accounted for US$40.78 billion, an increase of 7.7%. Compared to the same period last year, merchandise exports in June increased by 28.1%, with the domestic economic sector increasing by 15% and the foreign-invested sector (including crude oil) increasing by 31.8%.

In the second quarter of 2026, export turnover reached US$143.6 billion, an increase of 22.7% compared to the same period last year and an increase of 16.8% compared to the first quarter of 2026.

Overall, in the first six months of 2026, merchandise exports reached US$266.52 billion, an increase of 21.0% compared to the same period last year. Of this, the domestic economic sector accounted for US$53.51 billion, an increase of 4.6%, representing 20.1% of total exports; the foreign-invested sector (including crude oil) accounted for US$213.01 billion, an increase of 26.0%, representing 79.9%.

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In the first six months of 2026, 29 product categories achieved export turnover exceeding $1 billion, accounting for 92.1% of total export turnover (including 5 product categories with export turnover exceeding $10 billion, accounting for 62.6%).

Regarding the structure of export product groups in the first six months of 2026, the processed industrial goods group reached US$239.8 billion, accounting for 90.0%; the agricultural and forestry products group reached US$19.23 billion, accounting for 7.2%; the aquatic products group reached US$5.76 billion, accounting for 2.2%; and the fuel and mineral products group reached US$1.73 billion, accounting for 0.6%.

Regarding imports, the value of goods imported in June reached US$53.43 billion, an increase of 2.5% compared to the previous month; of which, the domestic economic sector accounted for US$14.19 billion, an increase of 7.7%; and the foreign-invested sector accounted for US$39.24 billion, an increase of 0.7%. Compared to the same period last year, the value of goods imported in June increased by 45.2%; of which, the domestic economic sector increased by 32.4%; and the foreign-invested sector increased by 50.4%.

In the second quarter of 2026, import turnover reached US$156.6 billion, an increase of 39.1% compared to the same period last year and an increase of 23.7% compared to the first quarter of 2026.

Overall, in the first six months of 2026, merchandise imports reached US$283.17 billion, an increase of 33.4% compared to the same period last year; of which, the domestic economic sector accounted for US$78.46 billion, an increase of 24.3%; and the foreign-invested sector accounted for US$204.71 billion, an increase of 37.3%.

In the first six months of 2026, 38 imported items reached a value of over $1 billion, accounting for 92.1% of total import turnover (with 2 imported items exceeding $10 billion, accounting for 51%).

Regarding the structure of import groups in the first six months of 2026, the production materials group reached US$266.4 billion, accounting for 94.1%, of which machinery, equipment, tools and spare parts accounted for 56.0%; raw materials, fuels and materials accounted for 38.1%. The consumer goods group reached US$16.77 billion, accounting for 5.9%.

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According to preliminary figures, in the first six months of 2026, the trade balance for goods showed a deficit of US$16.65 billion (compared to a surplus of US$7.95 billion in the same period of the previous year); of which, the domestic economic sector had a deficit of US$24.95 billion; and the foreign-invested sector (including crude oil) had a surplus of US$8.3 billion.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/kinh-te/6-thang-viet-nam-nhap-sieu-1665-ty-usd-20260703114826385.htm