Vietnam Industry and Trade News Bulletin for December 01, 2025

A. POSITIVE NEWS

1. Vietnam Becomes a New “Trade Superpower” According to the General Department of Customs, as of November 15, Vietnam’s total import-export turnover reached $801 billion, an increase of 17.2% compared to the same period in 2024. With this figure, Vietnam officially enters the top 15 global trade superpowers. This result far exceeds the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s (MoIT) September forecast of $800 billion for the full year. Experts recommend accelerating FTA signings and green transition to maintain this high growth momentum .

B. GENERAL ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS

1. MoIT Registers 6 Projects for 2026 For 2026, the MoIT has registered 6 projects to submit to the Government, including: The Scheme on implementing the ASEAN Economic Community Plan post-2025; regulations for the Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) market; amendments to Decree 62 on electricity safety; the National Energy Reserve Strategy; amendments to Decree 60 on market development; and the Plan for anti-counterfeiting on digital platforms (2026–2030) .

2. Response to Storm No. 15 The MoIT issued Urgent Telegram No. 9487/CD-BCT on November 29, requiring industry units to strictly implement storm response measures according to the “4 on-the-spot” motto to ensure safety .

C. ENERGY

1. 2026 Power Plan: Output & Imports to Exceed 350 Billion kWh The MoIT approved Decision No. 3477/QD-BCT on the 2026 National Power System Operation Plan. To support a GDP growth target of over 10%, the plan aims for a total electricity output and import of over 350 billion kWh. The plan includes base, operational, and backup scenarios to ensure supply flexibility amidst complex climate change .

2. Air Pollution Warning: Urgent Measures for Power & Steel Plants Facing air pollution warnings for late November/early December in the North, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment requested the MoIT to direct thermal power, steel, chemical, and fertilizer plants to ensure emission treatment systems operate efficiently. Plants may be asked to reduce capacity or reschedule maintenance during “Very Unhealthy” air quality days .

3. Phu Quoc Power Instability Phu Quoc island is experiencing rotating outages due to a force majeure incident on the 110kV Ha Tien – Phu Quoc submarine cable. Repair is time-consuming due to complex subsea conditions .

4. Increasing Electricity Imports By 2030, Vietnam plans to import approximately 9,360-12,100 MW of electricity from Laos and China, a five-fold increase from current levels, to ensure supply for the North .

5. Policies for Offshore Wind Power The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) proposed allowing foreign investors to participate in offshore wind projects in Vietnam alongside domestic firms, countering the current draft which restricts this to Vietnamese state-owned enterprises .

D. EXPORT – IMPORT & LOGISTICS

1. Logistics Goal: Reducing Costs to 12-15% of GDP At the Vietnam Logistics Forum 2025 in Da Nang, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien emphasized the goal of the Logistics Services Development Strategy (2025-2035): reducing logistics costs to 12-15% of GDP (from the current 18-20%) and ranking among the top 40 nations in the Logistics Performance Index (LPI) .

2. Seafood Exports to US Face “Countervailing Duty” Waves While seafood exports reached $9.5 billion in 10 months (up 15%), the US market is volatile. Exports to the US have trended downwards since Q3 due to a 20% countervailing duty applied from August. Additional risks loom from anti-dumping taxes on shrimp and new environmental regulations (MMPA) taking effect in 2026 .

E. INDUSTRY

1. Manufacturing PMI Hits 53.8 in November Vietnam’s manufacturing sector showed strong resilience with the PMI reaching 53.8 points in November 2025. Highlights include a sharp rise in production and new orders, despite supply chain delays caused by storms. Employment also increased for the second consecutive month .

2. Textile & Garment Supply Chain Autonomy Targeting $64.5 billion in exports by 2030, the textile industry is implementing solutions to master material supply, focusing on “greening and digitalization” and building fashion brands to affirm its position in the global supply chain .

F. TRADE REMEDIES

1. Plywood Faces Compliance Pressure Vietnamese plywood faces “narrow doors” in developed markets not due to price, but due to strict requirements on data transparency regarding wood origin and emissions. Trade defense agencies are expanding investigations to prevent tax evasion via transshipment .

G. DOMESTIC MARKET & TRADE PROMOTION

1. Converting 7,000 Traditional Markets The MoIT is studying a model to convert nearly 7,000 traditional markets into modern convenience stores and commercial centers to improve infrastructure and consumer experience. This plan will soon be submitted to the Prime Minister .

2. National Concentrated Promotion Month 2025 The “National Concentrated Promotion Month 2025” has launched, offering discounts of up to 100%. The program aims to boost domestic consumption, help businesses clear inventory, and ensure social welfare by providing affordable goods .

3. Black Friday Cools Down Black Friday shopping was less frenetic this year as promotions were spread out over 7-10 days. Consumers are also saving their budget for “double day” sales (11/11, 12/12) on e-commerce platforms .

H. E-COMMERCE & DIGITAL ECONOMY

1. Digital Transformation Forum 2025 The MoIT will host the “Digital Transformation Forum for Industry and Trade 2025” on December 3 in Hanoi. The event will evaluate progress and define strategic priorities for 2025-2030.

I. INTERNATIONAL INTEGRATION

1. Optimizing EVFTA via Green Standards To maximize tax benefits from the EVFTA, businesses are urged to meet green standards and rules of origin. The MoIT is focusing on “hands-on” training for businesses to improve the utilization rate of preferential Certificates of Origin (C/O) .

2. CPTPP: A Billion-Dollar Door to the Americas The CPTPP’s tariff leverage offers a massive opportunity for Vietnamese goods in the Americas. However, experts warn that without improving quality and optimizing supply chains, Vietnam risks getting “stuck” as initial tariff advantages fade when competitors join similar agreements .