Vietnam Industry and Trade News Bulletin for December 08, 2025

A. POSITIVE NEWS

1. National Assembly to Vote on E-commerce Law The E-commerce Law project, presided over by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, is scheduled to be voted on by the National Assembly during the final week of the 10th Session (December 8-11, 2025). The law aims to create a transparent legal framework, clarify the responsibilities of platforms (including cross-border ones), protect consumer rights, and promote the digital economy .

2. Trade Turnover Nears $1 Trillion Milestone In the first 11 months of 2025, Vietnam’s total import-export turnover reached $839.75 billion (up 17.2% year-on-year). With the current momentum, the total turnover for the whole year is projected to reach $910-920 billion, bringing Vietnam closer to the historic $1 trillion mark, a significant milestone after nearly 40 years of “Doi Moi” reforms .

3. Seafood Exports Set for Record $11.3 Billion Seafood exports in the first 11 months exceeded $10.5 billion. The sector is forecast to set a new record of $11.2 – 11.3 billion for the full year 2025.

• Shrimp: Expected to surpass $4.6 billion (new record).
• Pangasius: Estimated over $2.1 billion.
• Tuna: Approaching the $1 billion mark .

B. GENERAL ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS

1. M&A Boom: Foreign Capital via Share Purchases Up 50% While newly registered FDI slightly decreased, foreign capital inflow via capital contribution and share purchases (M&A) surged to $6.117 billion in the first 11 months, an increase of 50.7% compared to the same period last year . This indicates a shift in foreign investor strategy towards acquiring existing businesses to penetrate the market quickly. The processing and manufacturing industry remains the top magnet for capital.

2. Industrial Production Up 9.3% The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) for the first 11 months of 2025 increased by 9.3%. The automotive industry led the growth with an impressive 37.4% increase, driven by year-end production ramp-ups.

3. Vietnam-China Pilot Two-Way Cargo Transport Starting December 10, 2025, a pilot program allowing vehicles to transport goods in both directions will be implemented at the Huu Nghi (Vietnam) – Youyi Guan (China) border gate pair. This aims to reduce logistics costs and improve customs clearance capacity .

4. Vietnam-US Trade Forum 2025 The Ministry of Industry and Trade will host the Vietnam-US Trade Forum 2025 on December 10 in HCMC to celebrate 30 years of economic cooperation and discuss future opportunities .

C. ENERGY

1. Key National Energy Projects Approved Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son signed Decision No. 2634/QD-TTg approving the list of key national energy projects. The list includes:

• 32 Power Source Projects: 21 thermal, 9 hydro, 2 offshore wind projects.
• LNG Infrastructure: 7 LNG terminal projects.
• Oil & Gas: The Dung Quat Refinery expansion project.
• Renewable Energy Hubs: 3 projects in the South Central and Southern regions .

2. Nhon Trach 3 & 4 LNG Plants to Operate The Nhon Trach 3 & 4 power plants, Vietnam’s first LNG power project, are set to be inaugurated and begin commercial operation in mid-December 2025. This marks a significant milestone in the country’s energy transition.

3. E10 Biofuel Challenges As the E10 biofuel mandate approaches, experts emphasize the need to develop sustainable raw material zones (specifically cassava) to ensure supply security. The Vietnam Agriculture Association commits to supporting farmers in forming these zones.

4. Emergency Response to Tropical Depression The MoIT issued Urgent Telegram No. 9697/CD-BCT directing industry units to proactively respond to a tropical depression near the East Sea, ensuring the safety of people and facilities (dams, power grids, mining sites).

D. TRADE REMEDIES & EXPORT Markets

1. US Investigates Steel Wheel Circumvention The US Department of Commerce (DOC) has initiated an anti-circumvention investigation on 22.5-24.5 inch steel wheels from Vietnam. The allegation is that these products use Chinese-origin hot-rolled steel (HRS) to evade duties on Chinese goods. Imports of Chinese HRS into Vietnam reportedly surged 291% from 2017 to 2023 .

2. Seafood Trade Defense Ecosystem With 298 trade defense investigations against Vietnamese exports by Nov 2025, the seafood sector (especially shrimp and pangasius) faces high risks. The Trade Remedies Authority proposes building a “trade defense ecosystem” involving state agencies, associations, and legal consultants to support businesses .

3. EVFTA Utilization After 5 years of the EVFTA, the rate of using preferential Certificates of Origin (C/O) for exports to the EU has reached 35.1%. The EU is now Vietnam’s third-largest export market.

E. DOMESTIC MARKET & CORPORATE NEWS

1. Japanese Group to Acquire Thien Long Kokuyo Group (Japan) is in negotiations to acquire a controlling stake (up to 65.01%) in Thien Long Group (TLG), Vietnam’s leading stationery company. Thien Long affirms that daily operations remain stable during the negotiation process .

2. Be Group Targets IPO in 2028 Be Group, the owner of the ride-hailing app “Be,” plans to launch an IPO by 2028. The company is diversifying its ecosystem into delivery, finance, and household services to compete with regional rivals.

3. Consumer Warnings

• Virtual Discounts: The National Competition Commission warns consumers about fake promotions during year-end sales.
• Online Scams: Experts warn of sophisticated AI-driven scams (deepfakes, fake livestreams) on social media platforms.
• Multi-Level Marketing: Authorities warn against illegal multi-level marketing schemes involving cryptocurrencies and apps with unusually high returns .