Vietnam Industry and Trade News Bulletin for January 08, 2026

A. POSITIVE INFORMATION

Vietnam Seafood Sets Miracle Record: Overcoming “Double Storm”, Striving for 11.5 Billion USD

• According to the Department of Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), in 2025, the seafood industry withstood great pressure from unprecedented fluctuations, especially the fierceness of natural disasters and the pressure to remove the IUU “yellow card”.
• However, with a flexible development strategy, the industry has marked a strong shift from production thinking to sustainable economic thinking.
• Achievements: Total seafood production in 2025 reached 9.95 million tons; export turnover set a new record of 11.3 billion USD, far exceeding the set plan.
• 2026 Target: This result is a premise for the industry to set a target for 2026 with a total output of 10 million tons and export turnover reaching 11.5 billion USD.

Pepper Prices Forecast to Conquer 200,000 VND/kg Mark

• The Import-Export Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade) forecasts that Vietnam’s pepper export activities in 2026 will be more vibrant thanks to supporting factors from prices and output.
• Price Trend: It is forecast that domestic pepper prices will surpass the 160,000 VND/kg mark before the Lunar New Year and may conquer the 200,000 VND/kg mark in 2026.
• Supply: The 2026 harvest season is expected to arrive later than usual due to the effects of drought in early 2025 causing slower flowering. Global supply remains limited, supporting prices.

B. GENERAL ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS

State Bank Net Bought 6 Tons of Gold

• In 2025, the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) acted as a net buyer of gold in the domestic market with a volume of 6 tons.
• This move aims to increase the national foreign exchange reserves and stabilize the domestic gold market in the face of global fluctuations.
• Analysts assess this as a prudent step to ensure monetary security while gold prices are in a strong uptrend globally.

Ho Chi Minh City: Consumer Price Index (CPI) Increased by 3.48%

• The Ho Chi Minh City Statistics Office reported that the average CPI in 2025 increased by 3.48% compared to 2024.
• Key Drivers: 10 out of 11 commodity groups recorded price increases. The group of housing, electricity, water, fuel, and construction materials increased the highest by 4.87%, followed by the group of medicines and medical services increasing by 4.55%.
• Decrease: Only the telecommunications group decreased slightly by 0.46%.

C. ENERGY

Oil Prices Stabilize After “Hot” Days

• After days of fluctuations due to geopolitical tensions in Venezuela, global oil prices showed signs of stabilizing in the session on January 8.
• Brent Oil: Traded around the 76 USD/barrel mark.
• WTI Oil: Hovered around 71 USD/barrel.
• The market is waiting for new signals from OPEC+ and the US crude oil inventory situation to determine the next trend.

D. DOMESTIC MARKET

HCMC: Tightening Food Safety for Tet

• To ensure the market operates smoothly for the upcoming Lunar New Year (Tet Binh Ngo 2026), the HCMC Department of Industry and Trade is coordinating with districts and wards to strengthen market management.
• Supply: The amount of goods supplied through 3 wholesale markets averages 6,500–7,500 tons/day and is expected to increase by 70–80% near Tet, reaching 12,000–13,000 tons/day.
• Distribution Network: The city has 66 shopping centers, about 300 supermarkets, 405 markets, over 3,600 convenience stores, and over 12,000 price stabilization points, ensuring goods reach every residential area.
• Inspection: The Department coordinates with the Market Surveillance force and Police to strictly handle trading of counterfeit, fake, and poor-quality goods, especially during the peak shopping season.

Tet Goods “Flood” Shelves, Supermarkets Race for Promotions

• Acknowledging the market atmosphere, major supermarket systems such as Co.opmart, WinMart, and Big C have filled shelves with Tet goods.
• Promotions: Discounts of up to 50% are applied to many essential items such as confectionery, beverages, and dried foods to stimulate shopping demand early.
• Services: Retailers also increase home delivery services and extend opening hours to serve people during the peak season.