Vietnam’s exports to China hit record as electronics shipments double
Electronics represented 51 per cent of September exports to mainland China, while Vietnam recorded its first monthly trade surplus since December 2025.
A sharp increase in electronics shipments lifted Vietnam’s September exports to mainland China to their highest monthly level, preliminary figures from the Vietnam Customs Department showed. The electronics category, which includes computers and components, reached US$5.99 billion, compared with US$2.92 billion in August.
Electronics supplied almost all of the US$3.1 billion increase in exports to China between August and September. Their share of shipments to that market reached 51 per cent, against August’s 34 per cent and 20 per cent a year earlier, passing the halfway mark for the first time.
The US remained Vietnam’s biggest electronics export destination, taking nearly US$7 billion in September, a monthly record. Hong Kong placed third with more than US$3 billion. Together with mainland China, these markets contributed over 90 per cent of the monthly rise in electronics exports.
Vietnam’s September merchandise balance showed a US$1.27 billion surplus, ending a run without a monthly surplus since December 2025, according to the National Statistics Office. Total exports set a record at US$59.48 billion. Electronics contributed US$22.6 billion, or nearly 38 per cent, whereas other goods brought in US$36.9 billion after a 5.1 per cent decline.
Imports of electronics climbed 5.9 per cent from August to a record exceeding US$27.1 billion. The category’s trade shortfall fell to US$4.58 billion from US$9.76 billion. Enterprises with foreign investment accounted for 99.7 per cent of electronics export value.
For January–September 2026, Vietnam still posted a US$19.42 billion trade deficit. Export earnings reached US$434.3 billion, rising 24.5 per cent year on year, while imports increased 36.7 per cent to US$453.7 billion.
