HCMC ECONOMY GROWS 7.07% IN JAN-SEPT
HCMC’s economy expanded 7.07% in the first nine months of this year, showing signs of steady recovery, according to the city’s Statistics Office. The city’s gross regional domestic product (GRDP) rose 8.11% year-on-year in the third quarter, 0.87 percentage point higher than in the second quarter. The growth trend contrasts with earlier forecasts from international institutions, which said there would be a slowdown in the second half due to external risks.
Q3 GDP GROWS 8.22%
Vietnam’s gross domestic product (GDP) rose an estimated 8.22% in the third quarter against the year earlier, the highest growth rate for the period since 2011, excluding the post-pandemic rebound in 2022, the Ministry of Finance said. At a Government meeting on October 5, Finance Minister Nguyen Van Thang said the economy maintained growth momentum despite external risks and domestic challenges.
BAC NINH TOPS VIETNAM IN FDI INFLOWS IN JAN-SEPT
Bac Ninh Province attracted more than US$15.3 billion in investment in the first nine months of this year, the highest level of foreign direct investment (FDI) among Vietnam’s provinces, reported local media. The northern province licensed 162 new domestic projects with fresh capital of VND256.1 trillion and 262 FDI projects worth US$1.51 billion.
AGRO-FORESTRY-FISHERY EXPORTS SHOW MIXED TRENDS IN SEPT
According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s online portal, after surging at the beginning of the month, global rubber prices fell sharply by month-end amid peak harvesting in Southeast Asia. In China, natural rubber prices dropped 5.6% to 14,490 yuan per ton. Over the first nine months, Vietnam exported 1.3 million tons of rubber worth US$2.32 billion, up 10.8% in value compared to the same period last year.
VIETNAM’S TILAPIA EXPORTS IN THE FIRST 8 MONTHS OF 2025 HIT A 5-YEAR HIGH
According to Vietnam Customs, Vietnam’s tilapia exports (including red tilapia) reached over USD 63 million in the first 8 months of 2025, up 174% from the same period last year. This figure exceeded Vietnam’s tilapia export value over the past five years, since 2020. The US remained the largest importer, accounting for 62% of Vietnam’s tilapia exports.
E-COMMERCE GROWTH TARGET REVISED UP TO 25.5%
The Ministry of Industry and Trade has raised the e-commerce growth target for 2025 to 25.5%, up from the initial projection of 20-22%, after the sector posted stronger-than-expected results in the first eight months of the year. According to the ministry, e-commerce has emerged as a key driver of the economy, with growth accelerating 25-27% in January-August, exceeding earlier forecasts by three to seven percentage points.
VIỆT NAM TURNS THE TIDE WITH STRONG TRADE SURPLUS
Việt Nam has reversed five consecutive quarters of balance of payments deficits, posting a surplus of nearly US$1.49 billion by the end of the second quarter of 2025, the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) reported. The improvement was driven mainly by a high current account surplus, which reached $8.72 billion, up 120 per cent from the first quarter of 2025.
VN’S FRUIT, VEGETABLE EXPORTS ESTIMATED AT $6.11 BILLION IN NINE MONTHS
Việt Nam’s fruit and vegetable exports are estimated to surpass US$6.11 billion in the first nine months of 2025, marking a year-on-year increase of 8.3 per cent, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment. September alone saw exports hitting nearly $1.29 billion, the highest monthly figure ever recorded. This represented a surge of 36 per cent compared to August and 41 per cent compared to the same month last year.
