Vietnam Industry and Trade News Bulletin for November 19, 2025

A. POSITIVE NEWS

1. Electronics Exports Surge: US Becomes Vietnam’s Largest Market Vietnam’s electronics exports continued to maintain strong growth in the first 10 months of 2025, contributing significantly to trade growth and recording a breakthrough in the US market. Customs data shows that in October 2025, exports of computers, electronic products, and components reached $9.79 billion. The 10-month total rose to $87.29 billion, a 47.9% increase year-on-year (an increase of $28.28 billion). This group accounted for 22.3% of the country’s total export turnover. The US is the largest market, importing $34.14 billion (up 78%), followed by China, Hong Kong, the EU, and South Korea .

B. GENERAL ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS

1. PM Requires Priority on Macroeconomic Stability and Export Promotion Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh signed Official Telegram No. 221/CD-TTg on November 19, 2025, prioritizing macroeconomic stability and boosting exports.

• Economic Performance: In the first 10 months, the macroeconomy was stable, inflation controlled, and exports reached $391 billion (up 16.2%), with a trade surplus of $19.6 billion.
• Directives: The PM directed the State Bank to manage monetary policy proactively; the MoIT to accelerate FTAs (with GCC, MERCOSUR) and trade promotion; and the Ministry of Finance to review tax rates and support businesses affected by US reciprocal taxes. The goal is to achieve over 8% growth in 2025 .

2. Vietnam: A Bright Spot in Southeast Asia’s IPO Market Vietnam’s capital market had an impressive 2025 with two major IPOs in the financial sector (Techcom Securities and VPBank Securities), raising about $1 billion. Deloitte’s report highlights Vietnam as a key driver, contributing to a >50% increase in total IPO capital raised across Southeast Asia. The government’s efforts to streamline listing procedures are credited for this success .

C. ENERGY

1. Leadership Change at the Institute of Energy The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) has temporarily assigned Mr. Le Viet Cuong, Deputy Director of the Institute of Energy, to manage the institute’s operations during the absence of the Director. This decision follows a report from the institute and approval from the Party Committee .

2. Launch of Vietnam Energy Efficiency Community On November 18, the MoIT launched the “Vietnam Energy Efficiency Community,” an online platform connecting experts, businesses, and organizations to share knowledge and solutions for energy saving. This is part of the National Energy Efficiency Program (VNEEP3). The platform aims to raise awareness and provide technical resources for energy management .

3. E10 Biofuel to be Sold Nationwide from June 2026 According to Circular 50/2025/TT-BCT, E10 biofuel (gasoline with 10% ethanol) will be sold nationwide starting June 1, 2026. E5 RON92 will continue to be sold until the end of 2030. Pilot sales of E10 began in August 2025 in Hanoi, HCMC, and Hai Phong. Experts recommend checking vehicle compatibility and emphasize the need for a specific pricing formula for E10 .

D. EXPORT – IMPORT

1. Imports: Two Commodity Groups Exceed $50 Billion In the first 10 months of 2025, Vietnam’s imports reached a record $371.44 billion (up 18.6%). Two groups exceeded $50 billion:

• Computers, Electronics & Components: $123.15 billion (up 39.1%).
• Machinery & Equipment: $49.55 billion (nearly $50 billion, up 24.5%). China remains the largest supplier for both groups. This surge in imports reflects strong demand for production materials to fulfill year-end export orders .

2. Shrimp Exports Hit 2025 Peak in October Shrimp exports in October 2025 reached $498 million (up 26%), the highest monthly level this year. The 10-month total reached $3.9 billion (up 22%). China and Hong Kong saw the strongest growth (+64%), importing over $1.1 billion. The CPTPP and US markets also showed positive growth. However, VASEP warns of potential slowdowns in Q4 due to trade defense pressures from the US .

3. Connecting Businesses at Israfood 2025 The Vietnam Trade Office in Israel participated in the Israfood 2025 exhibition (Nov 18-20) in Tel Aviv to connect Vietnamese exporters with Israeli buyers. This event marks 40 years of connecting the F&B industry in Israel .

E. DOMESTIC MARKET

1. HCMC Boosts Consumer Stimulus for Tet 2026 HCMC Department of Industry and Trade announced activities to stimulate consumption and stabilize the market for the Lunar New Year (Tet) 2026.

• “Responsible Green Tick” Month: Expanding the pilot for Tet gift baskets in December.
• OCOP Week: Connecting supply and demand with products from 24 provinces.
• City Sale: A major promotion event with discounts up to 80% from Nov 15, 2025 to Jan 4, 2026 .

2. Traceability: A Shield for the Market Amidst sophisticated counterfeit goods, especially on e-commerce platforms, product traceability is urgent. The MoIT is drafting a decree on origin criteria for domestic goods and deploying technologies like QR codes and blockchain. Experts suggest tax incentives for businesses investing in traceability systems .

3. Thai Durian Prices Spike On November 19, Thai durian prices in the Mekong Delta surged to 115,000 VND/kg (Type A), up 5,000-10,000 VND/kg due to high demand from China. Farmers are benefiting from off-season production strategies to avoid salinity and fetch high prices.

4. Cement Prices Hike Due to rising input costs (coal, electricity), many cement companies (Bim Son, Vicem But Son, Hoang Long) simultaneously increased prices by 100,000 VND/ton starting November 18. This may impact construction costs and project progress .

5. Pork Paradox: Farm Prices Drop, Retail Prices Stay High Live hog prices have fallen to 46,000-53,000 VND/kg (a 4-year low), causing losses for farmers. However, retail pork prices at markets remain high (120,000-160,000 VND/kg). The disparity is attributed to multiple intermediary stages capturing profits. Experts call for transparency in the value chain and reducing intermediaries .