Vietnam Trade Data in 2025 May —— Import & Export Summary

Vietnam 2025 May Trade Data Key Takeaways

Vietnam’s trade data reveals a manufacturing-driven economy, with electronics and machinery (HS 85 and 84) dominating both exports (48% share) and imports (37.8% share), highlighting a processing-heavy model. Geographically, exports lean on the U.S. ($13.7B) while imports rely heavily on China ($16.2B), exposing regional supply chain risks. May 2025 saw resilient growth, with exports up 17% to $39.6B and a $0.56B surplus, despite U.S. tariff uncertainty. This analysis of Vietnam’s import-export data covers May 2025 and is based on cleanly processed Customs data from the yTrade database.

Vietnam Trade Data Overview in May 2025

Vietnam, a major export-driven manufacturing hub, posted a solid May 2025 trade performance. Exports grew 17% year-on-year to $39.6 billion, with a 5.7% month-on-month increase, while imports rose 22.9% to $39.04 billion, up 5.9% from April. This resulted in a trade surplus of $0.56 billion. The figures reflect resilient activity in electronics and textiles, though growth was tempered by uncertainty from high-stakes U.S. tariff negotiations that dominated the month's trade policy agenda.

Table: Vietnam Global Trade Key Metrics Overview (Source: yTrade)

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Vietnam Top Trading Products in May 2025

Vietnam Global Trade Core Summary

Vietnam's trade is heavily dominated by manufacturing, with electronics and machinery leading both exports and imports. The top two export categories (HS 85 and 84) account for nearly 48% of total exports, highlighting a strong reliance on electrical and mechanical goods. Imports are similarly concentrated, with HS 85 alone making up 37.8% of inbound shipments. Key takeaways:

• High export concentration in electronics and machinery poses dependency risks.
• Import reliance on inputs for manufacturing, especially electrical components.
• Trade balance leans toward processing, with finished goods exported and raw materials imported.

Vietnam Export-Import Structural Gap

Vietnam's trade shows a clear processing-driven model: it imports components (HS 85, 84) and exports finished electronics and machinery. The overlap in top HS codes (e.g., electrical goods) points to assembly-based production. While exports are diversified into footwear and apparel, imports remain focused on industrial inputs, revealing gaps in domestic supply chains. Opportunities exist for upgrading into higher-value manufacturing or reducing import reliance through local sourcing.

Table: Vietnam Top Import & Export Product Categories (Source: yTrade)

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Vietnam Top Trading Countries in May 2025

Vietnam Global Trade Key Patterns

Vietnam’s trade flows show a mix of concentration and diversification. Exports are heavily reliant on the United States, which accounts for $13.7B, while imports are dominated by China ($16.2B). The top three export destinations (U.S., China, and Korea) hold a significant combined share, whereas import sources are more regionally focused, with strong Asian representation. Key asymmetries include export growth to the U.S. (+14.4%) and Hong Kong (+20.2%), contrasting with import declines from Japan (-5.1%) and Australia (-11.1%).

• Exports: U.S.-centric, with emerging growth in Asia (Hong Kong, Thailand).
• Imports: China-dependent, but Korea and Taiwan show rising importance.
• Regional ties: Strong Asian import network, but exports lean toward Western markets.
• Trade gaps: Export growth outperforms imports in key markets like the U.S. and Hong Kong.

Vietnam Export–Import Geographic Gap

Vietnam’s trade structure reveals a clear divide: exports target distant, high-income markets (U.S., EU), while imports cluster in nearby Asian economies (China, Korea, Taiwan). Only China and Korea appear in both top 10 lists, hinting at processing-trade ties. The imbalance suggests upstream dependency on regional suppliers but downstream diversification into global markets. This gap may expose Vietnam to supply chain risks in Asia while benefiting from stable Western demand.

Table: Vietnam Top Destiantion & Origin Countries (Source: yTrade)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What are the major products exported by Vietnam in May 2025?

Vietnam's top exports in May 2025 were electrical machinery (34.56% share, $72.18B), machinery/mechanical appliances (13.27%, $27.71B), and footwear (5.42%, $11.31B), based on HS code data.

Q2. What are the main products Vietnam imports in May 2025?

Vietnam primarily imported electrical machinery (37.8% share, $80.11B), machinery/mechanical appliances (7.76%, $16.44B), and plastics (6.37%, $13.5B) during May 2025.

Q3. Which countries are the top destinations for Vietnam's exports in May 2025?

The U.S. was Vietnam's largest export market ($13.7B, +14.4% MoM), followed by China ($5.3B) and South Korea ($2.5B), per country trade data.

Q4. Which countries supply most of Vietnam's imports in May 2025?

China was Vietnam's top import source ($16.2B, +7.7% MoM), with South Korea ($5.2B) and Taiwan ($2.9B) as secondary suppliers in May 2025.

Q5. Does Vietnam rely heavily on any single trading partner in May 2025?

While China dominates imports (41.5% of top 10 import sources) and the U.S. leads exports (34.6% of top 10 destinations), trade is diversified across multiple partners.

Q6. How balanced are Vietnam's export and import markets in May 2025?

Vietnam achieved a $0.56B trade surplus in May 2025, with exports ($39.6B) and imports ($39.04B) growing at 17% and 22.9% YoY respectively, indicating balanced trade flows.