The General Department of Customs announced this information in a report released on the afternoon of 8/10. In September, the agency reported that the total value of merchandise exports reached 82.49 billion USD, a decrease of 0.7% (equivalent to 561 million USD) compared to the previous month.

Specifically, export value reached 42.67 billion USD, a decrease of 1.7% (equivalent to 716 million USD), and import value reached 39.82 billion USD, an increase of 0.4%.

Cumulatively, in the first 9 months of this year, the country's total trade turnover exceeded 680 billion USD. This figure is 17.3% higher, equivalent to about 100 billion USD, compared to the same period in 2024 – a record-breaking year – and matches the total performance of 2023.

Regarding exports, the General Department of Customs reported that Vietnam achieved a value of approximately 348.7 billion USD, an increase of 16%. Conversely, merchandise imports also rose by 18.8% to nearly 332 billion USD. By the end of September, Vietnam's merchandise trade balance recorded a surplus of over 16.8 billion USD, which is 20% lower than the same period last year.

According to the customs agency, budget revenue from import-export activities in the first three quarters reached 336,540 billion VND. This figure represents 81.9% of the assigned estimate and an increase of 9.9% compared to the same period in 2024.

Meanwhile, at the Ministry of Industry and Trade's regular press conference on 8/10, Mr. Bui Huy Son, Director General of the Planning, Finance and Enterprise Management Department, stated that the Ministry forecasts the total merchandise import-export turnover for the entire year could reach a new milestone of approximately 900 billion USD.

Recently, Vietnam has been negotiating reciprocal tariffs with the US. According to Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan, the US side currently holds many positive assessments regarding the outcomes of the reciprocal trade tariff negotiations between the two countries.

In October or November, Vietnam's negotiating delegation is expected to undertake another business trip to the US for discussions aimed at finalizing the reciprocal trade agreement based on principles of openness, constructiveness, equality, mutual benefit, and consideration of each other's development levels.

Additionally, the Ministry of Industry and Trade will initiate negotiations for two FTAs between Vietnam and Mercosur and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in Q4. Concurrently, the Ministry plans to push for early commencement of negotiations with Pakistan and aims to conclude FTA negotiations between Vietnam and the EFTA Bloc in 2025.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade continues to support businesses through dialogues and engagements with industry associations and local authorities to promptly grasp the situation and advise the government on issuing appropriate support policies.

Anh Tu - Phuong Dung