Việt Nam posts $7.11 billion trade deficit in four months

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam recorded a trade deficit of US$7.11 billion in the first four months of 2026, according to the National Statistics Office under the Ministry of Finance.In its socio-economic report released on May 3, the office said the country’s total import-export turnover in April was estimated at $94.32 billion, up 0.8 per cent from the previous month and 26.7 per cent year-on-year.For the January-April period, total trade turnover reached an estimated $344.17 billion, rising by 24.2 per cent from the same period last year. Of the figure, exports increased by 19.7 per cent while imports surged by 28.7 per cent.Export turnover in April was estimated at $45.52 billion, down 2 per cent month-on-month. The domestic economic sector contributed $8.88 billion, down 1.2 per cent, while the foreign-invested sector, including crude oil, generated $36.64 billion, down 2.1 per cent.Compared to April last year, however, exports rose by 21 per cent. The domestic sector declined by 4.2 per cent, while foreign-invested enterprises posted a sharp increase of 29.2 per cent.In the first four months, export revenue was estimated at $168.53 billion, of which the domestic sector earned $33.65 billion, up 0.4 per cent, accounting for 20 per cent of total exports. The foreign-invested sector brought in $134.88 billion, up 25.8 per cent, representing 80 per cent.Twenty-four exports posted turnover of more than $1 billion, accounting for 89.1 per cent of total export value. Among them, seven items exceeded $5 billion each, making up 69.1 per cent.Processed industrial goods remained the largest export category, generating $151.5 billion and accounting for 89.9 per cent of total exports. Agricultural and forestry products reached $12.68 billion, seafood $3.55 billion, and fuels and minerals $800 million.Meanwhile, imports in April were estimated at $48.8 billion, up 3.6 per cent from March and 32.5 per cent year-on-year. The domestic sector imported goods worth $13.8 billion, and the foreign-invested sector $35 billion.During the first four months, import turnover reached $175.64 billion. Of the total, the domestic sector imported $49.27 billion, up 20.4 per cent, and the foreign-invested sector $126.37 billion, up 32.3 per cent.China remained Việt Nam’s largest import market, with turnover estimated at $69 billion. Việt Nam posted trade surpluses of $46.9 billion with the US, $14.2 billion with the European Union and $500 million with Japan. It recorded trade deficits of $46.4 billion with China, $15 billion with the Republic of Korea and $7.6 billion with ASEAN.The country’s trade deficit in April alone was estimated at $3.28 billion. In the first four months, the domestic sector posted a deficit of $15.61 billion, while the foreign-invested sector recorded a surplus of $8.5 billion. — VNA/VNS