Vietnam reports $14bn trade surplus in January-August

The economic and social situation report for the period, released on Saturday by the GSO under the Ministry of Finance, highlighted a range of positive indicators across sectors.

Exports continued to drive economic growth, with total turnover reaching nearly $306 billion over eight months, while imports totaled around $292 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of almost $14 billion.

Registered FDI reached $26.14 billion, up 27.3 percent year on year, and realized FDI totaled $15.4 billion, an 8.8-percent spike, underscoring strong investor confidence in Vietnam's economic prospects.

Agricultural, forestry, and fishery production remained stable, while industrial output grew 8.5 percent compared with the same period last year.

Certain industries recorded particularly high growth, including motor vehicle manufacturing (27.4 percent), rubber and plastic products (17.5 percent), other non-metallic mineral products (15 percent), garment production (13.9 percent), leather and related products (13.4 percent), and food processing (10.1 percent).

A standout feature of the economy was the sharp rise in new and reactivated businesses, reflecting a strong production recovery.

In the first eight months, 128,200 new enterprises were registered with total capital exceeding VND1,250 trillion ($47.35 billion) and nearly 777,000 registered employees, marking increases of 15.7 percent, 26.1 percent, and 15.5 percent, respectively, compared with the same period last year.

The average registered capital per new enterprise reached VND9.8 billion ($371,200), up nine percent year on year, while additional capital injected into the economy neared VND4,100 trillion ($155.3 billion).

Overall, the total number of new and reactivated enterprises reached 209,200, a 24.5-percent rise, compared with around 160,000 enterprises that suspended operations or were dissolved.

The consumer price index rose 3.25 percent over the first eight months, while total retail sales of goods and consumer services reached an estimated VND4,500 trillion ($170.5 billion), up 9.4 percent from a year earlier.

The country also saw a strong rebound in tourism, with 13.9 million international arrivals during the period, a 21.7-percent increase year on year.

These figures underscore Vietnam's resilient economic momentum, highlighting its potential to continue attracting investment and sustain export-driven growth throughout 2025.