Increase export value to escape the "processing trap".

VTV.vn - Behind the record export figures lies an urgent issue of sustainability.

In 2025, Vietnam officially established a new position on the global trade map with projected export turnover exceeding $470 billion. However, behind these record figures lies an urgent challenge regarding sustainability. To avoid falling into the trap of extensive growth, Vietnamese exports are facing a self-imposed requirement: they must transform from "low-value processing" to "high-value production".

Top 15 globally

By the end of 2025, Vietnam's economic landscape shone brightly with impressive trade indicators. According to official figures, the country's total import and export turnover reached a record high of 920 billion USD, placing Vietnam proudly among the top 15 countries with the largest trade volumes in the world.

In particular, merchandise exports are estimated to reach over $470 billion, a 16% increase compared to 2024. According to economic experts, this is a remarkable achievement in the context of a still uncertain global geopolitical landscape. Vietnam has not only maintained its growth momentum but also established a 10-year streak of trade surplus, with a trade surplus of approximately $22 billion.

Exports shouldn't just be judged by annual growth in value, but also by the actual value added that remains within the country. When each "Made in Vietnam" product not only brings pride in quantity but also affirms its class in terms of quality, technology, and sustainability, that's when we truly master the game in the international marketplace.

Notably, according to Mr. Tran Thanh Hai, Deputy Director of the Import-Export Department ( Ministry of Industry and Trade ), the structure of export goods also shows a strong shift. The group of electronic goods, computers and components continues to play a leading role with export turnover estimated at 82 billion USD, an increase of more than 14% compared to the same period last year.

In addition, traditional items such as textiles maintained their recovery momentum with $40.5 billion, and wood and wood products reached $16.8 billion. The agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sector recorded a spectacular breakthrough, with the total export value of the entire industry expected to surpass the record of $70 billion. Among these, fruits and vegetables became the biggest highlight, reaching approximately $8.1 billion, with durian alone contributing over $3.6 billion thanks to maximizing the use of official export protocols to China. Lobster exports also saw impressive growth of 15% as they penetrated deeper into high-end markets. This result demonstrates that businesses have effectively utilized FTAs ​​to enhance competitiveness and affirm the position of Vietnamese goods globally in 2025.

Dependence and vulnerability

However, facing the truth, Vietnam's export growth still has "Achilles' heels" that cannot be overcome overnight. According to market economist Tran Manh Hung, the first is the dependence on foreign entities. Although the figure of $470 billion is very large, the contribution from foreign-invested enterprises (FDI) still dominates. Domestic businesses, despite their growth, have not yet truly participated deeply in high value-added stages such as design, R&D, or distribution. We are mainly still stuck in the assembly and processing stages – where profit margins are lowest in the value chain.

Furthermore, there is the paradox of "imported raw materials – exported finished products." Many key industries still import 60-80% of their raw materials and components. This makes domestic production extremely vulnerable to global supply shocks. Whenever sea freight costs increase or regional supply chains are disrupted, the profit margins of export businesses are immediately eroded.

Furthermore, there are barriers from "green standards." The global market no longer demands just cheap and attractive goods, but also "clean" goods with clear origins. Regulations on emission reduction, traceability, and social responsibility from demanding markets like the EU and the US are becoming severe "technical barriers."

Faced with this situation, managers and economic experts alike believe that it is time for Vietnam to change its export strategy. According to Mr. Nguyen Anh Son, Director of the Import-Export Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade), "To achieve double-digit economic growth in the coming years, exports cannot continue to rely on traditional cost advantages such as cheap labor or natural resources. We must shift strongly towards in-depth growth, increasing technological content and the rate of localization."

Sharing the same view, Dr. Nguyen Thi Thu Trang, Director of the WTO and Integration Center under the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), emphasized that meeting sustainable development standards (ESG) is no longer a matter of "should do" but "must do." Dr. Trang argued that if businesses do not proactively adapt to environmental and labor standards, they will eliminate themselves from the global competition right from the start.

The "Three-legged stool" strategy for sustainable exports.

To realize the goal of high and sustainable growth, economic experts affirm that Vietnam needs to focus on three strategic pillars: enhancing self-reliance and added value, greening supply chains, and diversifying markets and partners.

Vietnam is facing a historic opportunity to reposition itself. High growth is necessary, but sustainability is the only way for us to go far and stand firm in a volatile world.

"Instead of just processing, businesses should be encouraged to invest in supporting industries to increase the localization rate. The goal is for every dollar exported to bring more added value to Vietnamese workers and businesses. Developing industry clusters will help reduce dependence on imported raw materials, thereby enhancing resilience to fluctuations in the global market," Mr. Hung advised.

Furthermore, Ms. Trang argued that greening is not just about installing solar panels on factory roofs. It's a comprehensive transformation process, from selecting raw materials and adopting energy-efficient production processes to environmentally friendly packaging and green logistics. This is the "passport" for Vietnamese goods to penetrate higher-end segments in the international market.

Only through data transparency and process digitization can businesses meet the stringent traceability requirements of foreign partners.

Lessons from geopolitical crises show that "putting all your eggs in one basket" is extremely risky. Vietnam needs to continue to more effectively exploit markets within the CPTPP, EVFTA, and RCEP blocs, while expanding into new potential markets in the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa. Diversifying markets helps minimize risks when a country or region experiences economic difficulties.

In particular, in this game, the role of the State is to create and support, but the main decision-makers are businesses and household businesses. Domestic businesses need to be bolder in applying digital technology to management and production. Only through data transparency and process digitization can businesses meet the stringent traceability requirements of foreign partners.

Furthermore, the linkage between small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and large corporations is crucial. These "big players" need to take a leading role, integrating their satellite businesses into their supply chains and jointly building a robust export ecosystem.

Source: https://vtv.vn/nang-cao-gia-tri-xuat-khau-de-thoat-bay-gia-cong-100251217201024473.htm