Trade balance turns to a $7.11 billion deficit in the first four months of 2026

In the first four months of 2026, Vietnam’s total import and export value of goods reached USD 344.17 billion, up 24.2% year-on-year. Import growth of 28.7% outpaced export growth of 19.7%, widening the trade deficit to USD 7.11 billion, reversing the USD 4.3 billion trade surplus recorded in the same period last year.

April 2026 trade performance

In April 2026, the value of goods exports and imports was estimated at USD 94.32 billion, up 0.8% month-on-month and up 26.7% year-on-year. Over the four-month period, total trade value reached USD 344.17 billion, up 24.2% year-on-year.

Exports in April 2026 were about USD 45.52 billion, down 2.0% month-on-month. The domestic economic sector earned USD 8.88 billion, down 1.2%, while the foreign-invested sector (including crude oil) earned USD 36.64 billion, down 2.1%.

On a year-on-year basis, April export value rose 21.0%. The domestic sector fell 4.2%, while the foreign-invested sector (including crude oil) increased 29.2%.

Exports: structure and key figures

For the first four months, export value reached USD 168.53 billion, up 19.7% year-on-year. The domestic sector earned USD 33.65 billion, up 0.4%, accounting for 20.0% of total exports. The foreign-invested sector earned USD 134.88 billion, up 25.8%, accounting for 80.0%.

In the four-month period, 24 export items recorded values above USD 1 billion, accounting for 89.1% of total export value. Seven items exceeded USD 5 billion, accounting for 69.1%.

Export market concentration

The United States remained Vietnam’s largest export market, with exports of about USD 53.9 billion.

Imports: growth and composition

In April 2026, imports were estimated at USD 48.8 billion, up 3.6% month-on-month. The domestic sector accounted for USD 13.8 billion, up 2.6%, while the foreign-invested sector reached USD 35.0 billion, up 4.0%.

Compared with the same period last year, April imports rose 32.5%, with the domestic sector up 22.7% and the foreign-invested sector up 36.8%.

For the first four months, imports reached USD 175.64 billion, up 28.7% year-on-year. The domestic sector was USD 49.27 billion (up 20.4%), and the foreign-invested sector was USD 126.37 billion (up 32.3%).

In the four-month period, 30 import items exceeded USD 1 billion, accounting for 87.4% of total imports. Two items exceeded USD 5 billion, accounting for 49.2%.

Import structure

Production materials totaled USD 165.37 billion (94.2%), including machinery, equipment, and tools at 54.8% and raw materials at 39.4%. Consumer goods totaled USD 10.27 billion (5.8%).

Import market concentration

China remained Vietnam’s largest import market, with imports of about USD 69.0 billion.

Trade balance by partner and sector

For four months in 2026, Vietnam recorded a trade surplus with the United States of about USD 46.9 billion, up 24.4% year-on-year. The surplus with the EU was USD 14.2 billion, up 6.7%, while the surplus with Japan was USD 0.5 billion, down 28.0%.

Vietnam recorded trade deficits with several major partners, including China at USD 46.4 billion (up 33.4%), South Korea at USD 15.0 billion (up 57.8%), and ASEAN at USD 7.6 billion (up 44.3%).

With these results, the trade balance for goods in April 2026 is estimated at a deficit of USD 3.28 billion. For the first four months of 2026, the overall trade balance is estimated at a deficit of USD 7.11 billion, compared with a surplus of USD 4.3 billion in the same period last year.

By sector, the domestic sector posted a trade deficit of USD 15.61 billion, while the foreign-invested sector posted a trade surplus of USD 8.5 billion.