Vietnam Industry and Trade News Bulletin for January 10, 2026

INDUSTRY AND TRADE NEWS DIGEST SYNTHESIZED FROM DOMESTIC ELECTRONIC INFORMATION NETWORKS Date: January 10, 2026

Notable issues related to the Industry and Trade sector that have been covered and reflected by the press are as follows:

A. POSITIVE INFORMATION

Traceability: Shield for Protecting Vietnamese Exports

• In the context of trade barriers shifting towards origin control and digital standards, traceability has become a strategic defense layer.
• Benefits: Helps businesses reduce the risk of high tariffs (e.g., 0% vs. 40% in the US), shorten inspection times, and consolidate proof of origin.
• Action: The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) recently operated the verigoods.vn platform to help businesses standardize data before entering international markets.+2

Sustainable Development of Retail Trade

• According to the Domestic Market Department (MoIT), the scale of Vietnam’s retail market for goods and services in 2025 reached over 7 quadrillion VND, an increase of about 10% compared to 2024.
• Infrastructure: The country has about 1,300 supermarkets and 280 shopping centers.
• E-commerce: Transaction scale reached 32 billion USD, accounting for about 12% of total market revenue.+1

Deploying Solutions for Price Stabilization for Tet Binh Ngo 2026

• The Ministry of Finance issued Directive No. 03/CT-BTC on managing and stabilizing prices during the Lunar New Year.
• Status: In 2025, the market for essential goods remained stable; fuel prices trended downward, supporting production and daily life.+1

B. GENERAL ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS

UOB Raises Vietnam GDP Growth Forecast 2026 to 7.5%

• UOB experts assess that Vietnam’s Q4/2025 GDP growth reached its highest level since 2009, pushing full-year growth to 8%.
• Forecast: Based on this solid foundation, UOB raised its 2026 growth forecast to 7.5% (up from the previous 7%), despite potential risks from global trade and US tariffs.

Affirming the Leading Role of State-Owned Economy

• In the first week of 2026, General Secretary To Lam signed Resolution No. 79-NQ/TW.
• Content: Affirming the state-owned economy as a specially important component, pioneering in creating development, promoting industrialization, and taking science-technology/digital transformation as the main driver.

C. INDUSTRY

Vietnam Textile and Garment Maintains Growth Amidst Challenges

• Performance: Export turnover in 2025 is expected to reach 46 billion USD, up 5.6% compared to 2024.
• Structure: Ready-made garments remain the key product (over 38 billion USD).
• Trend: Businesses are shifting from pure processing to focusing on design and branding to increase value added.

D. ENERGY

World Oil Market Closes Volatile Week

• Closing the week ending Jan 9, oil prices rebounded as investors assessed supply risks from Iran, Russia, and Venezuela.
• Prices: Brent crude rose about 4% for the week (closing at 63.34 USD/barrel); WTI rose nearly 3% (closing at 59.12 USD/barrel).

E. IMPORT – EXPORT

Netherlands: Largest Trade Surplus Market for Vietnam in Europe

• In 2025, the Netherlands was Vietnam’s largest trading partner in the EU (total trade 14.3 billion USD, +3.8%) and the largest trade surplus market in Europe (12.7 billion USD).
• Exports: Strong growth in Coffee (373 million USD, +57.9%), Vegetables (158 million USD, +41.3%), and Cashew nuts (+22.3%).+1

Philippines Lifts Rice Import Ban

• From early 2026, the Philippines officially lifted the 4-month import ban.
• Condition: The 15% tariff remains. Rice must arrive within 60 days of permit issuance (expected arrival by end of Feb 2026).

Durian Export Forecast 2026: Can Vietnam Overtake Thailand?

• In 11 months of 2025, China spent nearly 7.2 billion USD importing durian (+17.2% volume).
• Competition: Thailand ranks #1 (3.9 billion USD); Vietnam ranks #2 (3.24 billion USD).
• Market Share: Vietnam holds 49% of volume and 45% of value (approaching Thailand’s 50.4% volume). Vietnam’s share in China’s total fresh durian imports rose to 49.3%.+1

Leveraging RCEP Advantages

• RCEP markets account for over 50% of Vietnam’s fishery exports.
• Growth 2025: Exports to China reached 2.2 billion USD (+33%); Japan nearly 1.7 billion USD (+14.6%); South Korea +9.6%.

Trade Balance Maintains Surplus, FDI Leads

• 2025 Total: Import-export turnover reached 930.07 billion USD (+18.28%). Trade surplus exceeded 20 billion USD.
• December: Turnover reached 88.64 billion USD, up 15.1% month-on-month.+1

F. DOMESTIC MARKET

HCMC Consumers “Turn Away” from Canned Food

• Following the scandal of Halong Canned Food JSC selling products made from diseased pork, supermarkets in HCMC (MM Mega Market, Go!, Bach Hoa Xanh) have removed these products from shelves on Jan 9.
• Reaction: Central Retail suspended all pork-based products from this company pending official conclusions to protect consumer health.

Establishing Task Force to Combat Smuggling for Tet

• The Market Management Agency (MoIT) issued Decision 07/QĐ-TTTN establishing a task force to inspect and urge anti-smuggling work during the peak Tet Binh Ngo 2026 period (until March 15, 2026).

HCMC: Abundant Tet Goods, Slow Purchasing Power

• HCMC prepared over 26,000 billion VND in goods for Tet, with 9,000 billion VND for price-stabilized items (meeting 23-42% of demand).

Strictly Handling Smuggling: “Process One Case, Warn the Whole Region”

• At the conference on Jan 9, Deputy PM Bùi Thanh Sơn emphasized that anti-smuggling is a top priority.
• Issues: Violations are shifting to e-commerce; some officials still cover up violations. Sanctions are not yet deterrent enough.+2

G. E-COMMERCE

Supply Chain Transparency: Key to Stopping Fakes on E-platforms

• E-commerce creates growth but also risks of counterfeit goods.
• Challenge: Bad actors use cross-border loopholes to hide origins.
• Solution: Transparency and investing in technology/governance are crucial to protect the “Digital Economy” pillar and consumer trust.+2

H. TRADE DEFENSE

Steel Prices in Europe Risk Rising 30%

• European steel users warn that new EU protectionist measures could push material prices up by 30% (10 times the EC’s 3.25% forecast).
• Impact: Could increase production costs by 10.55 billion USD/year and reduce competitiveness.

I. GREEN GROWTH

Nghi Son Repositioning: Green Industrial Driver of North Central Coast

• Nghi Son Economic Zone (Thanh Hoa) has become a key growth pole.
• 2025 Stats: Industrial production value 265,000 billion VND; Budget revenue nearly 26,900 billion VND; Exports over 3.5 billion USD.
• Direction: Shifting from broad investment attraction to selecting high-quality, green projects (energy, petrochemicals, logistics).+2