Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnamese businesses are accelerating efforts to adapt to the unpredictable global situation while making use of free trade agreements (FTAs) to boost export value and maintain growth momentum.
Seizing opportunities to accelerate
In the first half of 2025, Vietnam’s total export turnover was estimated at 219.83 billion USD, marking a 14.4% increase compared to the same period last year. The trade balance revealed a surplus of 7.63 billion USD. In the context of global economic challenges, these results highlight the strong efforts by the business community in capturing opportunities and maintaining markets.
Le Tien Truong, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Vietnam Textile and Garment Group (Vinatex), shared that in the first six months of 2025, the profit growth was quite strong for many textile and garment enterprises, with Vinatex itself seeing profits double compared to the same period last year.
The profit growth exceeded the revenue increase, indicating that selling prices improved in the first half of the year. Additionally, larger orders – rather than being split into smaller and shorter ones as last year – enabled businesses to have more control over production scale and planning, shared Truong.
Notably, many businesses have begun developing longer-term production and business plans to speed up their progress toward year-end goals.
Pham Van Viet, from Viet Thang Jean Co., Ltd. (VITAJEANS), shared that in the first half of 2025, the company's revenue increased by approximately 13%. All orders bound for the US market were shipped before June 20, and the company is now seeking domestic sources of raw materials to better meet the requirements of this market. For other markets, orders remain stable.
Not only the textile and garment sector, but many other industries also recorded positive results during January–June. The Vietnam Steel Corporation (VNSteel) reported a 20.1% increase in total sales of finished steel products over the past six months, including a 29.8% rise in construction steel and a 19.6% increase in coated steel. Additionally, the metal output saw notable year-on-year growth of 39.1%.
In the agricultural sector, the total export turnover of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products reached 33.84 billion USD during the period, up 15.5% from a year earlier. Coffee stood out as a bright spot, with exports totalling 5.45 billion USD in just six months, approximating the full-year target for 2025.
Making use of strategic markets
Exports are currently the main growth driver of Vietnam’s economy, achieving double-digit growth in the first six months of 2025. Moreover, the continued trade surplus has contributed to the stability of the payment balance and foreign exchange rates, as well as inflation control.
Besides, Vietnam has continued to effectively utilise FTAs such as the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) to boost overseas shipments.
However, given the economic and political landscape both globally and domestically in 2025, along with the forecasted mix of challenges and opportunities ahead, accelerating export has become a goal and strategic focus for enterprises in the second half of the year.
Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, CEO of Garment 10 Corporation, stated that market signals are not yet very promising for the last months of the year, especially for shirt products.
Currently, Garment 10 is proactively seeking and expanding raw material sources by connecting with member units within the corporation as well as some companies in India and Taiwan (China). In addition, the company is actively implementing solutions to diversify product designs, markets, and customers, thereby promoting production and business to achieve the set targets soon, she said.
Meanwhile, Pham Van Viet of VITAJEANS shared that the company plans to invest in raw material and accessory factories domestically. It has already acquired three such factories in the country and is boosting investment in high-tech equipment for these facilities. Alongside this, it is accelerating efforts to expand into markets like Australia and Canada./.
