Trade: Vietnam's August imports dip 0.8 percent despite stronger electronics inflows
Vietnam’s imports edged down 0.8 percent month-on-month to US$39.67 billion in August, according to Vietnam’s General Department of Customs.
Year-to-date imports reached US$291.97 billion, with foreign-invested enterprises accounting for US$197.19 billion.
Electronics led gains. Imports of computers and components rose 2.1 percent to US$14.13 billion, while phones climbed 20.2 percent to US$1.11 billion.
Still cameras increased 3.4 percent, but consumer electronics fell 11.8 percent.
Machinery imports eased 2.5 percent to US$5.36 billion, and motor vehicles dropped 15.3 percent.
Agricultural products showed wide swings.
Wheat surged 145.7 percent to US$148.80 million, tobacco materials more than doubled, and rice imports rose.
By contrast, milk products fell 18.3 percent, cashew nuts slid 9.7 percent, and fruits and vegetables declined 8.1 percent. Animal fodders grew 11.4 percent, while coffee and fishery products weakened.
Energy imports remained volatile.
Crude oil rose 18.3 percent to US$653.74 million, while coal dropped 23.3 percent.
Petroleum products fell 26.5 percent, though liquefied petroleum gas gained 10.4 percent.
The data highlights Vietnam’s reliance on electronics and machinery imports, which accounted for most inflows, while agricultural and energy categories swung sharply.
The import profile reflects both sustained demand for manufacturing inputs and volatility in commodities and consumer goods.
Vietnam import data in August 2025 (US$ millions)
| August | July | MoM | YTD | % of YTD | |
| Total | 39,669.30 | 39,998.52 | -0.82% | 291,969.80 | 100.00% |
Total for FDI enterprises | 28,908.89 | 28,713.40 | 0.68% | 197,194.85 | 67.54% |
Fishery products | 278.51 | 295.31 | -5.69% | 2,154.63 | 0.74% |
Milk and milk products | 105.51 | 129.21 | -18.34% | 962.86 | 0.33% |
Fruits and vegetables | 228.18 | 248.28 | -8.09% | 1,677.38 | 0.57% |
| Cashew nut | 394.49 | 436.74 | -9.68% | 3,324.63 | 1.14% |
| Wheat | 148.80 | 60.56 | 145.70% | 1,022.55 | 0.35% |
| Corn | 315.20 | 260.74 | 20.89% | 1,728.74 | 0.59% |
| Soy beans | 141.70 | 138.66 | 2.19% | 837.61 | 0.29% |
Animal, vegetable fats and oils | 152.97 | 123.05 | 24.32% | 1,017.73 | 0.35% |
pastries, sweets and cereal products | 68.40 | 49.77 | 37.44% | 407.14 | 0.14% |
Other edible food preparations | 102.42 | 107.44 | -4.67% | 888.42 | 0.30% |
Animal fodders and animal fodder materials | 385.80 | 346.38 | 11.38% | 3,059.01 | 1.05% |
tobacco materials | 49.01 | 22.73 | 115.64% | 266.14 | 0.09% |
Ores and other minerals product | 204.21 | 275.37 | -25.84% | 2,029.81 | 0.70% |
| Coal | 376.84 | 491.34 | -23.30% | 4,710.22 | 1.61% |
| Crude oil | 653.74 | 552.74 | 18.27% | 5,203.60 | 1.78% |
Petroleum products | 557.59 | 758.11 | -26.45% | 4,694.89 | 1.61% |
Liquefied petroleum gases (lpg) | 191.34 | 173.38 | 10.36% | 1,345.47 | 0.46% |
Other petroleum products | 224.45 | 195.84 | 14.61% | 1,251.00 | 0.43% |
| Chemicals | 637.95 | 693.45 | -8.00% | 5,247.62 | 1.80% |
Chemical products | 673.76 | 703.54 | -4.23% | 5,179.59 | 1.77% |
Pharmaceutical materials | 32.29 | 37.53 | -13.97% | 328.41 | 0.11% |
Pharmaceutical products | 308.56 | 366.12 | -15.72% | 2,799.05 | 0.96% |
| Fertilizers | 222.28 | 242.54 | -8.36% | 1,510.50 | 0.52% |
Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery, cosmetic or toilet preparations | 127.07 | 132.11 | -3.82% | 988.76 | 0.34% |
Insecticides, rodenticides and materials | 78.25 | 87.14 | -10.20% | 683.27 | 0.23% |
| Plastics | 1,021.10 | 1,084.78 | -5.87% | 8,350.27 | 2.86% |
| Plastic products | 949.27 | 979.49 | -3.09% | 6,886.02 | 2.36% |
| Rubber | 254.71 | 274.10 | -7.07% | 1,953.56 | 0.67% |
Rubber products | 104.30 | 113.03 | -7.72% | 810.69 | 0.28% |
Wood and wooden products | 288.46 | 309.47 | -6.79% | 2,110.28 | 0.72% |
| Paper | 200.90 | 226.04 | -11.13% | 1,599.81 | 0.55% |
| Paper products | 116.60 | 116.92 | -0.28% | 825.11 | 0.28% |
| Cotton | 227.09 | 244.26 | -7.03% | 2,092.70 | 0.72% |
| Yarn | 239.71 | 242.22 | -1.04% | 1,876.28 | 0.64% |
| Fabrics | 1,163.14 | 1,212.99 | -4.11% | 9,916.93 | 3.40% |
Textile, leather and foot-wear materials and auxiliaries | 580.74 | 587.94 | -1.22% | 4,743.33 | 1.62% |
Glass and glassware | 122.18 | 114.91 | 6.33% | 902.85 | 0.31% |
Precious stones, precious metal and articles thereof | 88.53 | 98.04 | -9.70% | 645.73 | 0.22% |
Ferrous waste and scrap | 169.52 | 164.65 | 2.95% | 1,313.83 | 0.45% |
| Iron and steel | 949.36 | 852.18 | 11.40% | 7,178.68 | 2.46% |
Iron and steel products | 743.00 | 784.91 | -5.34% | 5,207.38 | 1.78% |
Other base metals | 910.47 | 945.48 | -3.70% | 7,286.95 | 2.50% |
Other base metal products | 417.38 | 461.70 | -9.60% | 3,048.40 | 1.04% |
Computers, electrical products, spare-parts and components thereof | 14,128.46 | 13,839.05 | 2.09% | 95,953.18 | 32.86% |
Electric consumer products and parts thereof | 146.71 | 166.27 | -11.76% | 1,750.03 | 0.60% |
Telephones, mobile phones and parts thereof | 1,108.06 | 921.72 | 20.22% | 6,985.16 | 2.39% |
Still image, video cameras and parts thereof | 234.27 | 226.50 | 3.43% | 1,596.26 | 0.55% |
Machine, equipment, tools and instruments | 5,359.60 | 5,498.69 | -2.53% | 38,866.00 | 13.31% |
Insulated wires and cables | 389.83 | 411.49 | -5.26% | 2,978.03 | 1.02% |
| Motor vehicles | 363.35 | 429.03 | -15.31% | 3,021.20 | 1.03% |
Parts and accessories of motor vehicles | 452.25 | 521.38 | -13.26% | 3,614.39 | 1.24% |
Motorcycles and parts, accessories thereof | 62.65 | 67.08 | -6.61% | 480.67 | 0.16% |
Other means of transportation, parts and accessories thereof | 127.41 | 153.98 | -17.25% | 969.86 | 0.33% |
| Other products | 2,090.92 | 2,022.12 | 3.40% | 15,687.18 | 5.37% |
