Vietnam economy shows mixed trade deficit and rising FDI

Vietnam's economy shows mixed indicators across key sectors in 2026. Total import-export turnover for the first nine months reached $888 billion, a 30.4% increase year-on-year. However, the trade balance shifted to a $19.4 billion deficit, driven largely by high demand and rising prices for electronic and semiconductor raw materials, including chips and SSDs.

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into Vietnam surged by 76.4% in the first nine months, reaching $50.4 billion in registered capital. Despite this influx and rising demand for industrial land, profits for several industrial park developers, such as Becamex and Kinh Bắc, saw significant declines due to accounting changes and high interest costs.

In the agricultural sector, Vietnam is shifting its rice export strategy from volume to value. While the country aims for 8 million tons of rice exports in 2026, experts emphasize a transition toward high-quality fragrant rice varieties rather than relying on mass-produced white rice or imported stocks for processing.

Meanwhile, the construction materials market faces fluctuations. While fuel price drops helped lower production costs in the third quarter, building material prices like steel and cement remain subject to supply-demand dynamics and regulatory oversight to prevent speculation.