Vietnam Industry and Trade News Bulletin for January 22, 2026

A. POSITIVE INFORMATION

Electronics Exports Earn Over 107 Billion USD

• December 2025 Performance: According to Customs data, export turnover reached 44.05 billion USD, an increase of 12.6% (equivalent to 4.94 billion USD) compared to the previous month.
• Record Milestone: For the first time, the group of computers, electronic products, and components exceeded the 10 billion USD/month threshold (reaching 10.74 billion USD).
• Full Year 2025:
  • Total export value reached 107.75 billion USD.
  • This accounts for approximately 23% of the country’s total export turnover.
  • Growth rate: 48.4% year-on-year (an absolute increase of 35.15 billion USD).
• Significance: This group maintained its No. 1 position in export value and contributed more than half of Vietnam’s total export turnover increase in 2025.
• Key Markets:
  • United States: Exports reached 42.09 billion USD, a sharp increase of 81.4% (up 18.88 billion USD).
  • China: Exports reached 16.89 billion USD, an increase of 33.6% (up 4.24 billion USD) compared to 2024.

Vietnam Seafood Rises to Top 3 in Singapore

• Market Position: Vietnam firmly holds the 3rd position in seafood supply to Singapore, standing only behind Malaysia and Indonesia.
• 2025 Data: Seafood import value from Vietnam reached 125.5 million SGD, an increase of 10.7% year-on-year, accounting for 10.3% of the total market share in Singapore.
• Market Demand: Singapore has relatively even demand for four main seafood groups, each with an import value exceeding 200 million SGD in 2025.
• Competition:
  • Norway: Continues to lead in fresh or chilled fish (excluding fillets) with 42.5% market share.
  • China: Surpassed Norway in Q3/2025 to become the 4th largest partner; strong in crustaceans and mollusks, ranking immediately after Vietnam.

B. GENERAL ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS (FOR REFERENCE)

1. Science & Technology Breakthroughs at the 14th Party Congress

• Strategic Vision: The 14th National Party Congress is expected to make breakthrough decisions, identifying science-technology, innovation, and digital transformation as the central drivers of the new growth model.
• Leadership Quotes:
  • Mr. Nguyen Xuan Thang (Politburo Member, Chairman of Central Theoretical Council): Emphasized that to build national power, a new growth model must be established with sci-tech, innovation, and digital transformation as the main engines to achieve breakthroughs in productivity, quality, and competitiveness.
  • Mr. Pham Duc Long (Deputy Minister of Science and Technology): The Congress sets a target for the digital economy to account for 30% of GDP by 2030. Currently, it accounts for 14%, despite Vietnam being the fastest-growing digital economy in Southeast Asia. This requires treating the digital economy as a new operating method.
• Local Perspectives:
  • Mr. Bui Thanh Toan (Dak Lak Provincial Party Committee): Placing these drivers at the center will help localities like Dak Lak better exploit potentials for sustainable growth.
  • Youth Representatives: Mr. Bui Duc Giang (Phu Tho) and Mr. Nguyen Hai Phu (Tay Ninh) highlighted unprecedented opportunities for youth in AI, green tech, and startups, calling for policies to help youth access digital technologies.

2. FDI Attraction: Quality & New Position

• Current Status: Vietnam remains a bright spot, ranking among the top 15 developing nations for FDI attraction. FDI contributes about 16% of total social investment capital.
• Minister’s View: Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang stated that Vietnam will prioritize selective FDI attraction (large-scale, high-tech, eco-friendly) and strengthen linkages between domestic and FDI enterprises.
• Drivers: Dr. Chu Thanh Tuan (RMIT University) noted the main driver is the global supply chain shift away from China, with Vietnam benefiting from labor costs, location, and FTAs.
• Future Outlook (5-10 Years):
  • Dr. Ngo Pham Tran (Taiwan-Vietnam Business Association) assessed that in 5-10 years, Vietnam could reach a different position on the global economic map.
  • Investors are upgrading from capital expansion to R&D and technology transfer. Many semiconductor groups have chosen Vietnam for R&D divisions.
• Google Pixel Production:
  • News: Google plans to start developing and producing high-end smartphones (Pixel, Pixel Pro, Pixel Fold) in Vietnam this year.
  • NPI Process: Google will deploy the New Product Introduction (NPI) process in Vietnam. NPI is the most complex phase (design, verification, refinement) before mass production.
  • Significance: Moving NPI from China to Vietnam indicates Google’s assessment that Vietnam’s supply chain capacity has reached a higher level, capable of product development, not just assembly.

3. Agriculture: New Foundation for Green Growth

• Transformation: The sector has shifted from “production-centric” to an economy based on value, quality, efficiency, and sustainability.
• 2025 Milestone: Agro-forestry-fishery exports surpassed 70 billion USD for the first time (up from 42.3 billion USD in 2020).
• Processing Industry:
  • Value-added grew by 7-8% annually (2021-2025).
  • Proportion of processed products increased from ~20% (2020) to over 30% (2025).
• Sector Highlights:
  • Cultivation: Adapted to climate change; widespread adoption of advanced farming and emission reduction models.
  • Livestock: Shifted from small-scale to farm-scale with biosecurity.
  • Fisheries: Mr. Tran Dinh Luan noted the restructuring towards reducing coastal fishing, increasing aquaculture, and strict traceability to overcome the “yellow card” (IUU).
  • Forestry: Focus on large timber forests and forest fire prevention.
• Green Models: The “1 million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice” project in the Mekong Delta demonstrates the harmony between economic growth and environmental protection.
• Potential: Dr. Dang Kim Son believes the sector can grow 4-5%/year if prioritized. Minister Tran Duc Thang emphasized the aspiration for a modern, ecological, and globally competitive agriculture.

4. Macroeconomy: Foundation for New Cycle

• “Quartet” of Resolutions: The economy is bolstered by four key resolutions: No. 57 (Sci-Tech/Innovation), No. 59 (Integration), No. 66 (Law Enforcement), and No. 68 (Private Economy).
• Indicators:
  • Public Debt: Safe and well below the ceiling.
  • Investment: Investment-to-GDP ratio is over 30%, with significant room to expand private investment.
• Expert Analysis: Dr. Vo Tri Thanh stressed that maintaining high growth must go with stability. The key challenge is converting high savings into effective investment, which depends on trust and institutional quality.

C. TRADE REMEDIES

UK Reviews Tariff Quotas on Coated Steel and Steel Plates

• Event: The UK Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) initiated a review of tariff quotas for certain steel products on January 14, 2026, as current measures are set to expire in June 2026.
• Scope of Review: The review considers removing certain codes from the safeguard scope:
  • Category 4: Metallic coated sheets (codes 7210.61, 7210.69).
  • Category 7: Quarto steel plates (codes 7208.51, 7208.52).
• Timeline:
  • Investigation Period: October 1, 2024 – September 30, 2025.
  • Registration Deadline: January 25, 2026 (via TRA’s system).
• Recommendation: The Trade Remedies Authority of Vietnam advises enterprises to check HS codes and register on time to protect their interests in the UK market.