Finding solutions to maintain export growth rate

Maintain growth momentum

According to the Trade Promotion Agency, Vietnam's exports in the first 8 months of 2025 continued to maintain a positive growth momentum. The total import-export turnover in the first 8 months reached nearly 600 billion USD, an increase of 16.3% over the same period in 2024. This is considered an impressive result in the context of the global economy still having many uncertainties, trade conflicts and geopolitical fluctuations strongly affecting the international supply chain. Despite the impressive results, exports still face risks from international trade policies.

Production activities at Viet Long Giang Garment Joint Stock Company.

Electronics is Vietnam's leading export industry. In 8 months, export turnover reached 100 billion USD, accounting for more than 30% of the country's total export turnover, up 25% over the same period in 2024. Exports to the US market alone reached 35 billion USD.

Mr. Truong Van Cam, Vice President of the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association, said: In the first 8 months of 2025, the textile and garment industry achieved an export turnover of about 30.8 billion USD, an increase of 7% over the same period last year. Imports of raw materials reached 16.8 billion USD, an increase of 3.2%, bringing a trade surplus of 14 billion USD. Key markets all recorded growth: the US increased by 15%, the EU increased by 15.1%, Japan increased by 10.1%, China increased by 9.3%. In particular, some European markets such as Germany increased by 20.9%, the Netherlands increased by 12.2%, Spain increased by 10.4%...

The footwear industry still maintains a growth rate of about 10%, with the US market alone increasing by 12%. However, at the conference, Ms. Phan Thi Thanh Xuan, Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Leather, Footwear and Handbag Association, pointed out a number of difficulties in the coming time, including the fact that Indonesia is negotiating a free trade agreement with the EU, which could become a direct competitor if the agreement is signed, reducing the advantage of Vietnamese footwear in the European market.

Identifying the important role of associations and industries as a "bridge" to promote Vietnamese goods, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien said that in order to promote Vietnamese goods to access markets, it is necessary to implement solutions such as: Industry associations need to develop trade promotion plans in line with the reality and capacity of member enterprises, prioritizing markets with effectively exploited FTAs, while orienting expansion to potential areas; periodically monitor, analyze and share information on the market situation; improve early warning capacity on policy changes, technical barriers and trade defense measures; play a good role as a "bridge" to support member enterprises in connecting with trade offices, diplomatic agencies, distribution partners and consumption channels in foreign markets; actively support enterprises in building brands, organizing trade promotion, and Vietnamese trade offices abroad to mobilize enterprises to actively participate in trade promotion programs within the framework of FTAs; Strengthening connections between businesses in the industry and innovative businesses…

Towards sustainable development goals

Representatives of the associations all agreed on the need to diversify export and import markets, in order to reduce dependence on key markets. In addition, it is necessary to strengthen market information from the Vietnamese trade office system abroad, helping businesses to promptly grasp new trends and regulations, such as the EU's sustainability laws. Organizing fairs and connecting international trade is also emphasized for businesses to promote products and cooperate in investment.

Mr. Tran Ngoc Quan, Trade Counselor in Belgium and the EU, said that in the short term, access to Vietnamese goods in the EU market does not face many difficulties in terms of procedures and administration. EVFTA has brought great advantages to Vietnam when more than 90% of tax lines have been reduced to 0%. At the same time, the EU is currently strengthening measures to protect the domestic market through measures such as stepping up inspection of goods quality, anti-dumping, anti-origin fraud, etc., along with adjusting trade policies to cope with fluctuations from the US. This is an opportunity for businesses to diversify markets and increase their presence in Europe.

Giving a warning from this market, Mr. Tran Ngoc Quan said that it is expected that at the end of October and the beginning of November 2025, the European Commission (EC) will come to Vietnam to inspect and make a decision on the EU to remove the yellow card warning against illegal fishing (IUU) since 2017. It is known that this is the last inspection to make a decision that if the implementation is good, the yellow card will be removed, otherwise, the IUU red card will be changed.

Therefore, according to Mr. Tran Ngoc Quan, Vietnamese enterprises need to have better measures to support fishermen in their fishing activities. If the IUU yellow card is removed, it will be a good condition for Vietnam to export this item, in which tuna is being sought by many importers from the EU. Regarding the food group, although the EU has warned many times, the number of violations of food safety for vegetables and fruits is still increasing. The EU is reviewing vigorously to come up with stronger solutions and believes that if Vietnam does not effectively control food safety for this group of items, it will be possible to switch to an export ban to EU countries, not just stopping at increasing supervision.

Mr. Tran Ngoc Quan also said that currently, Vietnam is enjoying a great advantage from the EU market, however, in the long term, when the EU gradually returns to policies on sustainable development, Vietnamese enterprises also need to prepare, which is to exploit the market well in the short term but must have appropriate steps, that is, to carry out digital transformation and green transformation well for sustainable development in the future to ensure continued development in the coming time.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoang Thuy, Trade Counselor in Sweden, also said that when Europe returns to the orbit of sustainable development, only businesses that meet green production and responsible production will maintain their position. This is a mandatory condition for businesses.

Mr. Nong Duc Lai, Vietnam Trade Counselor in China, shared that: China is tightening supervision of the quality of imported goods. Regulations such as the Order on food safety management have been implemented drastically, with online and direct inspection measures at foreign production facilities. Therefore, Vietnamese enterprises need to improve product quality, ensure comprehensive traceability; at the same time, they need to pay attention to investing in processing, preservation and logistics technology.

According to Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien, the responsibility placed on the industry and trade sector is very large, so it requires the system of domestic and foreign agencies to strive to ensure that at least all work targets are equal to or higher than the average GDP of the whole country, that is, the last 4 months of the year need to reach at least 150 billion USD (average over 37.5 billion USD/month).

“This is a very heavy task, requiring high determination and synchronous, drastic and effective participation of the entire political system and enterprises, industry associations, especially the Vietnamese trade office system abroad must be an extended arm of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, accompanying enterprises and industry associations. Only with unity can we bring Vietnamese exports to new heights,” Minister Nguyen Hong Dien emphasized.

Article and photos: KHÁNH NAM

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/tim-giai-phap-giu-vung-toc-do-tang-truong-xuat-khau-a191024.html