Vietnam Industry and Trade News Bulletin for January 26, 2026

A. POSITIVE INFORMATION

MoIT Issues Plan for CPTPP Chairmanship Year 2026

• Decision: The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) issued Decision No. 141/QD-BCT on Jan 21, 2026.
• Content: The decision outlines the plan to implement activities for Vietnam’s role as the Chair of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in 2026.

B. GENERAL ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS (FOR REFERENCE)

Thousands of Small Businesses Benefit from New Policy

• New Decree: The Government issued Decree 20/2026 detailing and guiding the implementation of Resolution 198/2025/QH15.
• Key Benefit: One of the most notable contents is the exemption and reduction of corporate income tax.
• Impact: Experts believe this policy will not only reduce cost pressure and improve cash flow for newly established enterprises but also create a push for the private sector, encouraging startups and nurturing businesses during their risky early stages.

C. INDUSTRY

Why is the “Backbone” of Modern Industry Still Weak?

• Context: Developing the supporting industry (CNHT) requires more than just individual efforts from the state or businesses; it needs synergy where enterprises play a central role to spread technology and form closed, sustainable supply chains.
• Current State: CNHT is the backbone of modern industry. Previously, FDI firms struggled to find domestic suppliers for even simple parts like screws or rubber gaskets. Strengthening this sector is crucial for autonomy.

D. GREEN GROWTH

Green Production: Path to Higher Productivity and Sustainability

• Trend: Amidst climate change and resource depletion, green production is an inevitable trend.
• Cement Industry: Transitioning requires huge capital. It is estimated that the industry needs about 500,000 billion VND to upgrade production lines to be environmentally friendly.
• Success Story:
  • Tien Phong Plastic (NTP): In 2025, consolidated revenue reached 6,750 billion VND (+20%), and profit before tax reached 1,196 billion VND (+30%) – the highest level in its 65-year history.
  • Driver: This result reflects the importance of investing in technology, management, and green production.

E. ENERGY

Breakthrough Mechanism for Energy Development

• Resolution 253: Introduces a breakthrough: Grid investment projects included in power planning and provincial planning do not require investment policy approval, significantly shortening preparation time.
• DPPA Expansion: The Direct Power Purchase Agreement (DPPA) mechanism is expanded to include industrial zones, economic zones, high-tech zones, urban areas, and free trade zones.
• Clarity: The Resolution resolves regulatory overlaps, clarifying which regulations to follow for state agencies and businesses.
• Assessment: The Vietnam Energy Association evaluates that Resolution 253 removes major bottlenecks by empowering the Government with flexibility, strengthening bidding mechanisms, and simplifying price management tools.

Using Natural Gas Effectively for Energy Security

• Challenges: Despite being a key transition fuel, natural gas development faces 3 bottlenecks:
  1. Domestic gas supply declining faster than forecast.
  2. Gas and LNG infrastructure is not synchronized.
  3. Institutional framework and policies lag behind market requirements.
• Solutions:
  • Complete the legal framework for the entire gas/LNG chain (exploration to distribution).
  • Develop infrastructure synchronized with industrial hubs to avoid fragmentation.
  • Build a market-based gas pricing mechanism with a long-term roadmap.
  • Push international cooperation for capital and technology.

Expanding Vietnam – Germany Cooperation on Energy Transition

• Agreement: MoIT (Electricity & Renewable Energy Authority, Oil Gas & Coal Dept, NSMO) and GIZ (Germany) signed an agreement to implement the “Technical Support for Energy Transition in Vietnam (TEV)” project – supplementary phase.
• Extension: The project is extended until the end of December 2026, reinforcing the commitment to sustainable energy transition.

Accelerating Renewable Projects in Gia Lai

• Directive: On Jan 25, Gia Lai PPC Vice Chairman Nguyen Huu Que demanded investors of RE projects (wind, solar, hydro, biomass) to urgently accelerate progress.
• Projects: A series of projects are being implemented in early 2026, including Van Canh Wind Power, Ia Boong – Chu Prong, Van Canh 1 & 2, and Vinh Thanh Wind Power.

F. IMPORT – EXPORT

Import-Export “On Track” in Early 2026

• Performance: Following the record 2025, trade activity remained robust in early 2026.
• Data: In the first half of January 2026, total import-export turnover reached 39.3 billion USD.
• Balance: A trade deficit of 3.3 billion USD was recorded, but the high turnover signals that trade flows have not stalled.

G. DOMESTIC MARKET

Aptamil Milk Recalled in Europe, Vietnam Reviews

• Incident: Aptamil infant formula was recalled in the UK and Europe due to cereulide toxin contamination.
• Action: The Department of Food Safety (MoH) ordered localities to urgently review imports, distribution, and sales, especially on e-commerce platforms, to prevent unsafe products from entering the market.

Truth Behind Ring Turning Cheap Buffalo Meat into Premium Wagyu Beef

• Bust: Hanoi Police (Economic Crime Division) and Market Management busted a ring turning cheap buffalo meat into “premium beef”.
• Tactic: Employees were caught red-handed injecting essence into buffalo meat to fake it as “Hidasan” beef.
• Seizure: 60 tons of finished products were seized, labeled as Hidasan beefsteak, Hokubeef, and Wagyu King Beef. All were actually imported buffalo meat.

Traceability Changing Consumption and Management

• Context: Since Decision 100/QD-TTg (2019), traceability has changed habits from QR codes to AI/Blockchain integration.
• Challenge: The biggest issue remains the lack of consistency in standards and “data language” across the system.

Foreign Confectionery of Unclear Origin on “Online Market”

• Warning: Taking advantage of Tet demand, confectionery of unclear origin is flooding the market.
• Enforcement: Hanoi Market Management Team No. 14 and Police Team No. 6 are intensifying inspections of business compliance to protect consumers.

H. TRADE PROMOTION

Opening Way for Vietnamese Goods into Global Distribution

• Strategy: For 2026, MoIT is persistently implementing the project to promote Vietnamese enterprises’ direct participation in foreign distribution networks.
• Goal: This is a key part of the strategy to restructure production and exports and enhance national competitiveness amid global volatility.

I. E-COMMERCE AND DIGITAL ECONOMY

Increasing Sanctions to Fight Counterfeit Goods

• Event: On Jan 22, VCCI organized a forum on “Cyber Commercial Fraud”.
• Context: E-commerce is a growth driver but is exploited for selling fake/poor-quality goods.
• Solution: Delegates called for increased sanctions and stricter management to clean up the online marketplace.