Vietnam Industry and Trade News Bulletin for February 04, 2026

A. POSITIVE INFORMATION

Ships “Massively” Loading: Over 80% of Rice Exported to the Philippines

• Volume: According to the Vietnam Food Association (VFA), from December 20, 2025, to January 26, 2026, 51 ships loaded 344,220 tons of rice for export. In the first 26 days of January 2026 alone, 26 ships loaded 128,420 tons.
• Key Markets: The Philippines accounted for the vast majority with 277,220 tons (80.54%). This surge comes after the world’s largest rice importer officially reopened its market on January 1, 2026, following a suspension since September 2025. Other markets included Africa with 50,000 tons (14.52%) and Malaysia with 17,000 tons (4.94%).
• Ports: Ho Chi Minh City ports accounted for the majority of the loading with 317,970 tons, while 26,250 tons departed from My Thoi port in An Giang province.

Processed Fruit and Vegetable Exports Exceed $2 Billion for the First Time

• Milestone: A major bright spot in 2025 was processed fruit and vegetable exports hitting a new record of 2.06 billion USD, up 42.1% compared to 2024. This group now accounts for about 24% of the total fruit and vegetable export turnover.
• Key Contributors: High value-added products drove this growth, including processed coconut (362 million USD, +57%), pistachios (361 million USD, +64%), and almonds (183 million USD, +80%). Products from passion fruit, mango, jackfruit, and longan also maintained double-digit growth.
• Trend: The international market is prioritizing products with low quarantine risks, ease of transport, and compatibility with modern distribution chains. This reflects a long-term shift in consumer behavior and reduces the industry’s reliance on raw exports.

B. GENERAL ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS (FOR REFERENCE)

Prime Minister Orders Immediate Resolution of Decree 46 Obstacles

• Directive: Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh signed Directive 08/CĐ-TTg on February 3, 2026, to address difficulties in implementing Decree 46/2026/NĐ-CP regarding food safety.
• Issues: The implementation has caused border congestion and delayed customs clearance for imported/exported food and goods.
• Action Plan: The PM requested the Ministry of Health (MoH) to coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) to review the regulations and report at the regular Government meeting on February 4, 2026. A 24/7 hotline must be established to quickly handle business and local queries.

MoIT Issues New Guidance on Food Safety Inspections

• Guidance: Following the PM’s directive, the MoIT requested local People’s Committees to allocate resources to inspect imported food under the MoIT’s jurisdiction to ensure smooth customs clearance without causing border backlogs.
• Decentralization: Localities are urged to quickly review and decentralize the task of state inspection for imported food safety.

Vietnam’s Economy: Favorable Conditions for a New Growth Cycle

• 2025 Performance: Vietnam achieved a GDP growth rate of 8.02% in 2025, the second-highest in the 2011–2025 period.
• 2026 Forecasts: International organizations are optimistic for 2026: AMRO forecasts 7.6% growth, UOB 7.5%, HSBC 6.7%, and the World Bank 6.3%. EuroCham’s Business Climate Index (BCI) hit a 7-year high of 80 points in Q4/2025.
• Drivers: Growth is fueled by FDI (especially in electronics and green manufacturing), robust domestic consumption (+8% in 2025), and a strong tourism recovery (>21 million international visitors in 2025).

Australia Becomes First Major Economy to Raise Interest Rates in 2026

• Rate Hike: The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) raised its overnight rate by 0.25 percentage points to 3.85% on February 3.
• Context: The decision was driven by returning inflationary pressures, primarily from rising service and housing costs, alongside a tight labor market (unemployment dropped to 4.1% in December 2025).

C. ENERGY

Vietnam – US Strengthen Cooperation on LNG Power Projects

• Meeting: On February 1, 2026, in Washington D.C., Acting Minister of Industry and Trade Le Manh Hung met with AES Corporation CEO Juan Ignacio Rubiolo.
• LNG Development: Acting Minister Hung emphasized that LNG power is a crucial baseload source for energy security and the transition to clean energy. The successful operation of the Nhon Trach 3 and 4 plants in 2025 proves the feasibility of this model. AES reaffirmed its commitment to long-term investment in Vietnam.

Investment Approvals Granted for Two Bauxite Projects Totaling Nearly 60,000 Billion VND

• Approval: On February 3, Lam Dong province granted investment adjustment decisions to Vinacomin (TKV) for two major projects totaling 59,855 billion VND.
• Projects: 1. Expansion of the Nhan Co Alumina Plant (29,986 billion VND) with a new 1.2 million tons/year production line. 2. Expansion of the Lam Dong Bauxite-Aluminum Complex (29,869 billion VND) adding a second 1.2 million tons/year line.
• Timeline & Impact: Both are expected to operate by Q4/2030, doubling TKV’s alumina capacity to 4 million tons/year, creating 3,000 jobs, and contributing ~4,000 billion VND to the state budget.

D. IMPORT – EXPORT

MoIT Requests Information Coordination on Goods Clearance

• Action: On February 4, the MoIT’s Agency of Foreign Trade sent urgent requests to Customs Branches (Zones I, II, and III) to provide daily updates on cargo backlogs at Noi Bai International Airport. Reports detailing container numbers, goods types, and reasons for delays must be sent daily before 16:30.

Customs Orders 24/7 Duty to Clear Imported Food

• Directive: Following the PM’s Directive 08, the General Department of Customs issued an urgent dispatch on February 4 requiring 24/7 shifts to expedite the clearance of imported food and prevent supply chain disruptions.
• Reporting: Customs branches must report backlogged food data daily at 8:00 AM and 1:30 PM.

Logistics Enterprises Propose Suspending Decree 46 Until March 2026

• Petition: The Vietnam Logistics Business Association (VLA) petitioned the Government to suspend Decree 46 and Resolution 66 until March 31, 2026.
• Conflicts: VLA cited legal conflicts where internal production materials were previously exempt from inspections but now face mandatory checks without clear processing mechanisms, stranding raw materials for beverages and confectioneries at borders. The testing system is overloaded, causing severe delays ahead of Tet.

Digital Transformation Optimizes Export Competitiveness

• Forum Insights: At a February 3 forum, experts highlighted that the biggest barrier to export growth is operational mindset rather than product quality.
• Case Studies: Businesses like Indochina and BABEENI emphasized standardizing B2B e-commerce profiles (e.g., on Alibaba) to build international trust. Garment company TNG demonstrated that automation for its 20,000 workers, saving just 5-10 seconds per task, yields massive cost reductions.

Seafood Exports in Jan 2026: China Leads, US Drops Sharply

• Overview: VASEP reported that January 2026 seafood exports grew, driven primarily by China, Japan, and ASEAN.
• China Surge: Hong Kong (China) was the largest market at nearly 250 million USD (+28.7%), fueled by Tet demand for premium shrimp and lobster.
• US Decline: Exports to the US fell 9.9% to 96 million USD, with tuna severely impacted (-14%) due to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and Circular 74/2025 COA certification issues.
• Forecast: February exports are expected to decline due to the Tet holiday disruption and impending US anti-dumping tax results on shrimp.

Raw Tobacco Import Quota Set at Nearly 80,000 Tons for 2026

• Regulation: Circular 04/2026/TT-BCT set the 2026 import quota for raw tobacco (HS code 2401) at 79,199 tons. The circular is effective from March 15 to December 31, 2026.

E. DOMESTIC MARKET

Huge Crowds Flock to the Spring Fair for Tet Shopping

• Attendance: The First Spring Fair 2026 saw 18,300 visitors on February 2 and 14,000 on February 3.
• Sales: Provincial booths earned between 20 million and 1 billion VND over the two days (Son La was the highest). Enterprises in Ministry-managed zones reached over 2 billion VND each.
• Support: The MoIT requested local authorities to provide “0 VND” bus trips to help citizens easily access the fair.

Vietnamese Consumers Favor Imported Fruits

• Import Surge: In December 2025, Vietnam spent 528 million USD on imported fruits and vegetables (+74% YoY). The US was the top supplier at 307 million USD (+148%). Overall 2025 imports exceeded 3 billion USD (+24%).
• Drivers: This is driven by zero-percent tariffs on select items, higher incomes, and a strong preference for organic/safe certifications.
• Tet Market: Imported fruits like Japanese apples (up to 2.8 million VND/box) and New Zealand kiwis are highly sought after for premium Tet gifting.

Deep Discounts on Vietnamese Goods Attract Tet Shoppers

• Promotions: At the Spring Fair 2026, domestic brands like Hanvico (up to 70% off), Minh Khai Textile (20-30% off), and Lemino (up to 70% off) reported strong daily revenues ranging from 20 million to over 50 million VND.
• PM’s Message: Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stated at the opening ceremony that the fair is a “strategic lever” to boom the domestic market and spread the pride of “Vietnamese prioritize using Vietnamese goods”.