Vietnam Industry and Trade News Bulletin for December 19, 2025

A. POSITIVE NEWS

1. Industry & Trade Sector Sets High Targets for 2026 At the Conference summarizing Party work for 2025 and deploying tasks for 2026 held on December 18, the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) identified 2026 as a pivotal year for acceleration.

• Targets: The sector aims for an Index of Industrial Production (IIP) increase of approximately 14-15%; export turnover growth of over 10% with a trade surplus exceeding $15 billion; and total retail sales of goods and services increasing by 13-14%.
• Strategy: Key tasks include perfecting institutions to unclog resources, resolving bottlenecks for key projects (especially in energy and mining), and accelerating green and digital transitions to build an independent, self-reliant economy .

2. Vietnam Brand Week & “Made in Vietnam” Fair 2025 The “Vietnam Brand Week 2025” and “Made in Vietnam” Fair officially opened on December 18 in Hanoi.

• Theme: “Strong Brand – Green Future”, emphasizing the shift towards a green and circular economy.
• Scale: The fair features nearly 100 booths showcasing typical products from various regions, creating a connection between businesses and consumers, and promoting the “Vietnamese people prioritize using Vietnamese goods” campaign in the digital era .

B. GENERAL ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS

1. Vietnam – EU Cooperation: Towards Sustainable Development The project “Promoting cooperation with the EU market and encouraging sustainable development models in Vietnamese enterprises” (funded by Bulgaria) has concluded successfully.

• Impact: The project helped businesses grasp new EU standards such as the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), and Supply Chain Due Diligence (CSDDD).
• Recommendation: Experts urge businesses to proactively green their production and ensure transparency to maintain their position in this demanding market .

C. ENERGY

1. Groundbreaking of Quang Ninh LNG Power Plant On the morning of December 19, the groundbreaking ceremony for the Quang Ninh LNG Gas Power Plant Project was held in Cam Pha City.

• Scale: This is the first LNG power project in the North, with a capacity of 1,500 MW and a total investment of over 47,000 billion VND.
• Timeline: Expected to enter commercial operation in Q3/2027.
• Significance: The project will contribute 9 billion kWh/year to the national grid, paying over 57,000 billion VND to the budget over 25 years, ensuring energy security for the Northern region .

2. Importing Wind Power from Laos Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has agreed to the policy of importing electricity from the Truong Son (250 MW) and Gok (50 MW) wind power plants in Laos to Vietnam.

• Price: The maximum electricity purchase price is 6.95 US cents/kWh.
• Mechanism: EVN will negotiate Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) with investors, ensuring economic efficiency and grid connection progress (expected operation in late 2025) .

3. Hydrogen Strategy: Unlocking Potential At the “Hydrogen Energy Development” workshop, experts assessed that Vietnam has great potential for green hydrogen thanks to abundant renewable energy resources.

• Challenge: High production costs and the lack of a synchronous legal framework.
• Solution: It is necessary to pilot specific mechanisms for hydrogen projects, focusing on hard-to-abate sectors like heavy industry and transportation .

D. IMPORT – EXPORT

1. Rice Exports to EU Exceed Quota In the first 10 months of 2025, Vietnam exported 104,000 tons of rice to the EU, far exceeding the annual quota of 80,000 tons granted under the EVFTA.

• Value: Turnover reached $100 million, confirming the quality and value of Vietnamese rice.
• Potential: Despite the quota limit, businesses continue to export non-quota rice (accepting taxes) due to high demand. Vietnam aims to negotiate an increased quota in the future .

2. Fruit & Vegetable Exports Forecast for 2025-2026

• 2025: Fruit and vegetable export turnover is estimated to reach $7.5 billion.
• 2026 Target: Aiming for $8 – 9 billion.
• Key Drivers: Durian remains the “king” of fruits. Additionally, bananas, mangoes, and dragon fruit are expanding in markets like China, Korea, and the EU.
• Note: Ensuring quality, food safety, and growing area codes remains vital to sustainable growth .

E. DOMESTIC MARKET

1. Petrol Prices Dropped In the adjustment period on December 19, petrol prices decreased simultaneously:

• E5RON92: Decreased by 394 VND/liter.
• RON95-III: Decreased by 318 VND/liter.
• Oil Products: Diesel decreased by 200-300 VND/liter. This reduction helps ease consumer spending pressure during the year-end period .

2. Hanoi Ensures Goods Supply for Tet To serve the Lunar New Year 2026, Hanoi businesses have increased goods reserves by 30-40% compared to normal days.

• Price Stabilization: Implementing a price stabilization program for essential goods (rice, pork, vegetables) to prevent scarcity or price spikes.
• Promotion: Many promotional programs are launched to stimulate shopping demand .

3. Pork Prices Rising Live hog prices continue to increase slightly in many localities, fluctuating around 64,000 – 68,000 VND/kg.

• Reason: Demand for meat processing for Tet is increasing while supply in some areas is limited due to disease impacts. Prices are forecast to remain high until Tet .