Amid a clear recovery in domestic production and business activities, China continues to maintain its position as Vietnam’s largest source of imports, with both import value and growth rate far exceeding those of other major partners. In the first seven months of 2025, Vietnam’s total import turnover from China surpassed USD 101 billion, representing an increase of more than 27% year-on-year—significantly higher than the overall growth rate of the country’s total imports.
Imports from China currently account for over 40% of Vietnam’s total import value, underscoring China’s pivotal role in supplying raw materials, machinery, and components for Vietnam’s manufacturing sectors. The import structure remains heavily concentrated on technology-related and production-input goods, notably computers, electronic products and components; machinery, equipment and spare parts; mobile phones and accessories; as well as various industrial support products.
In addition, Vietnam’s key export-oriented industries such as textiles, garments, and footwear continue to rely substantially on raw materials sourced from China. Import turnover of fabrics, fibers, and garment and footwear inputs has maintained steady growth, reflecting stable production demand among domestic enterprises. Notably, imports of completely built-up automobiles, along with auto parts and components from China, recorded strong growth, indicating expanding domestic consumption and the development of Vietnam’s automotive industry.
According to relevant authorities, the majority of goods imported from China serve as essential inputs for domestic production, helping sustain factory operations and supply chains nationwide. This trend highlights the positive recovery of Vietnam’s economy, while also raising concerns about increasing dependence on a single major import market.
On the export side, Vietnam’s shipments to China continued to grow but at a much slower pace than imports, resulting in a widening trade deficit with this market. This situation underscores the need for comprehensive solutions to enhance value-added exports and expand Vietnam’s market share in China.
As China continues to tighten its import management regime in line with its high-quality trade strategy—introducing more stringent requirements on product standards, quarantine and inspection, food safety, and traceability—experts emphasize that Vietnamese enterprises must proactively adapt. Improving product quality, strictly complying with technical regulations, and developing well-structured market entry strategies will be critical for businesses seeking to strengthen exports to China. These efforts are expected to contribute to gradually narrowing the trade deficit and promoting more balanced and sustainable trade relations between the two countries.