Vietnam recorded a trade deficit of USD 7.11 billion in the first four months of 2026, driven by rising imports of production materials and equipment.

According to the General Statistics Office under the Ministry of Finance, Vietnam’s export turnover in April was estimated at USD 45.52 billion, down 2 per cent from the previous month.

Of this, the domestic sector contributed USD 8.88 billion, down 1.2 per cent, while the foreign invested sector, including crude oil, reached USD 36.64 billion, down 2.1 per cent.

In total, export turnover in the first four months was estimated at USD 168.53 billion, up 19.7 per cent year on year. The domestic sector accounted for USD 33.65 billion, up 0.4 per cent and representing 20 per cent of total exports, while the foreign invested sector contributed USD 134.88 billion, up 25.8 per cent and making up 80 per cent.

During the period, 24 export items recorded turnover exceeding USD 1 billion, accounting for 89.1 per cent of total exports, including seven items surpassing USD 5 billion.

Manufactured goods dominated the export structure, generating an estimated USD 151.5 billion, or 89.9 per cent of total export value. Agricultural and forestry products reached USD 12.68 billion, accounting for 7.5 per cent, while seafood exports stood at USD 3.55 billion, or 2.1 per cent. Fuel and mineral exports contributed USD 0.8 billion, representing 0.5 per cent.

On the import side, Vietnam’s import turnover in April was estimated at USD 48.8 billion, up 3.6 per cent from March. The domestic sector accounted for USD 13.8 billion, up 2.6 per cent, while the foreign invested sector reached USD 35 billion, up 4 per cent.

In the first four months, total imports were estimated at USD 175.64 billion, up 28.7 per cent year on year. The domestic sector imported USD 49.27 billion, up 20.4 per cent, while the foreign invested sector imported USD 126.37 billion, up 32.3 per cent.

A total of 30 import items exceeded USD 1 billion in value, accounting for 87.4 per cent of total imports, including two items above USD 5 billion, representing 49.2 per cent.

Production inputs dominated imports, valued at USD 165.37 billion, or 94.2 per cent of total imports. Of this, machinery, equipment and spare parts accounted for 54.8 per cent, while raw materials and fuels made up 39.4 per cent. Consumer goods imports were estimated at USD 10.27 billion, or 5.8 per cent.

The United States remained Vietnam’s largest export market, with turnover estimated at USD 53.9 billion. Meanwhile, China was the largest source of imports, reaching USD 69 billion.

Vietnam recorded a trade surplus of USD 46.9 billion with the United States, up 24.4 per cent year on year, and a surplus of USD 14.2 billion with the European Union, up 6.7 per cent. The surplus with Japan was estimated at USD 0.5 billion, down 28 per cent.

However, the country posted significant trade deficits with China at USD 46.4 billion, up 33.4 per cent, South Korea at USD 15 billion, up 57.8 per cent, and Association of Southeast Asian Nations at USD 7.6 billion, up 44.3 per cent.

The trade balance for April alone showed a deficit of USD 3.28 billion. Overall, Vietnam’s goods trade balance in the first four months recorded a deficit of USD 7.11 billion, compared with a surplus of USD 4.3 billion in the same period last year.