CHINESE CARS TOP VIETNAM IMPORTS, SURPASS INDONESIA AND THAILAND

Imported cars are seen at a port in Vietnam - PHOTO: ARCHIVES

HCMC – China became the largest exporter of completely built-up (CBU) cars to Vietnam in January, with 6,661 units, surpassing Indonesia and Thailand, according to the Department of Vietnam Customs.

Vietnam imported 15,042 CBU vehicles worth US$385 million in January. Import volume rose 2.3% from the previous month, while total value fell 5.2%, customs data show.

Indonesia shipped 4,141 vehicles to Vietnam and Thailand 3,015 units. Combined with China, these three countries accounted for 92% of total vehicle imports during the month.

Passenger cars with fewer than nine seats totaled 8,275 units worth US$156.9 million. This segment accounted for 55% of imports but declined 17.6% from December. Indonesia remained the largest supplier in this category with 4,141 units, followed by Thailand with 1,993 and China with 1,480.

Truck imports reached 3,669 units valued at US$96 million, up 26.7% from the previous month. China supplied 2,138 units, more than double Thailand’s 1,022 units.

Imports of specialized vehicles totaled 3,093 units worth nearly US$132 million. China accounted for 3,043 units, or about 98% of the segment.

Compared with January 2025, total vehicle imports rocketed 110%. Truck imports soared 628%, reflecting stronger demand from production, construction, and logistics activities.

Imports of auto parts and components totaled US$672 million in January, down 5% from the previous month but nearly 80% higher than a year earlier. China remained the largest supplier, with US$356 million, or more than half of total imports.

Total imports of CBU vehicles and auto parts reached US$1.06 billion in January. The figure fell 5.1% from December but surged 98% from the same period last year.

Source: The Saigon Times