FX.co ★ Vietnam Trade Balance Swings to Deficit

Vietnam registered a trade deficit of USD 1.1 billion in August 2026, reversing from a surplus of USD 3.7 billion in the same month a year earlier. This marked the ninth consecutive month of deficit, though it was the narrowest gap since March, as import growth continued to outpace exports. Factories have been ramping up purchases of machinery and raw materials to expand capacity and support the government’s goal of achieving double-digit GDP growth this year.

Imports surged 37.9% year-on-year to USD 54.91 billion, while exports increased 26% to USD 54.8 billion. Over the first eight months of the year, the country recorded a cumulative trade deficit of USD 20.46 billion. During this period, exports rose 22.4% to USD 374.84 billion, whereas imports climbed 35.3% to USD 395.30 billion.