TRADE DEFICIT WIDENS IN EARLY FEBRUARY AS IMPORTS SURGE
Vietnam posted a trade deficit of about US$948 million in the first half of February 2026, as imports rose faster than exports, according to preliminary data from the Department of Vietnam Customs. Total trade between February 1 and 15 reached US$41.67 billion. Exports stood at US$20.36 billion, while imports totaled US$21.31 billion.
FRANCE SEES VIETNAM AS KEY EXPORT MARKET IN 2026
France’s public investment bank Bpifrance has ranked Vietnam among the five most promising export markets for French companies in 2026, alongside Indonesia, Morocco, Canada, and the United Arab Emirates, reported the Vietnam News Agency. The assessment highlights Vietnam as a destination with strong growth potential at a time when global trade remains volatile and many exporters still focus on traditional markets such as Germany, the United States, and China.
HCMC DRAWS BILLIONS INTO DATA CENTER PROJECTS
HCMC is drawing several billion-dollar investments in data centers and digital infrastructure, with investors in the UAE and the United States committing up to US$2 billion each. The UAE’s G42 and Vietnamese partners signed a long-term agreement to develop large-scale data centers in Vietnam with total capital of up to US$2 billion. The facilities will be built in HCMC and operated under international standards to provide digital services to government agencies, businesses, and global partners.
VIETNAM TARGETS US$100 BILLION IN ANNUAL AGRICULTURE EXPORT REVENUE BY 2030
The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has set an annual export revenue target of US$73-74 billion in 2026 and US$100 billion by 2030 for the agriculture, forestry and fishery sectors, higher than the historic amount of US$70.09 billion last year. The specific sectoral breakdown for 2026 includes agricultural products with US$40 billion (up 7.2% against last year), fishery products with US$12 billion (up 7.6%) and forestry and wood products with US$18.8 billion (up 3.6%).
FOREIGN INVESTORS MAY OWN UP TO 49% OF VIETNAMESE AIRLINES
The Ministry of Construction has proposed raising the foreign ownership limit in Vietnamese airlines to a maximum of 49% from the current 34%. This proposal is found in a draft Government decree on aviation transport, which is currently being circulated by the Ministry of Construction for feedback. The proposal is aimed at attracting more foreign investment into the sector.
VIETNAM’S M&A MARKET HITS US$8.72 BILLION IN 2025
Vietnam’s mergers and acquisitions (M&A) market recorded 367 transactions in 2025, with total announced deal value reaching US$8.72 billion, a 26% increase against 2024. Of which, foreign investors accounted for 53.6% of the total transaction value, with Asian conglomerates maintaining a dominant role. According to a report by Grant Thornton Vietnam, M&A activity showed a marked acceleration starting in the second half of 2025 as global economic and tariff uncertainties began to ease from the third quarter.
GOV’T SETS STEEL SELF-SUFFICIENCY GOAL FOR 2050
The Government has approved a steel industry development strategy targeting 80–85% of domestic demand to be met by local production by 2030 and full self-sufficiency by 2050. Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son on February 9 signed Decision No. 261/QD-TTg approving the strategy, reported the Government news website (baochinhphu.vn).
RETAIL REVENUES FROM GOODS AND SERVICES GROW 9.3% IN JANUARY
Vietnam’s total retail revenues from goods and consumer services rose 9.3% year-on-year in January 2026, signaling a positive start for the trade and services sector this year, according to the National Statistics Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Finance. Total retail sales of goods and consumer services at current prices were estimated at VND632.4 trillion in January. The figure increased 2.6% from the previous month and matched the year-on-year growth rate recorded in January 2025.
