VIETNAM LOGISTICS COSTS ACCOUNT FOR 16 PER CENT OF GDP
Speaking at a logistics conference on August 26, Ho Thi Quyen, deputy director of the Ho Chi Minh City Investment and Trade Promotion Centre, said that Vietnam is now home to more than 34,000 logistics companies, with the sector contributing around 4.5-5 per cent of GDP. However, logistics costs remain high at approximately 16 per cent of GDP.
RICE EXPORTS EXPECTED TO GAIN MOMENTUM IN YEAR-END MONTHS
Việt Nam’s rice exports are expected to improve in value during the final months of this year as export prices show signs of recovery while stronger demand in several major markets could support shipments. The Vietnam Food Association reported that as of August 15, Việt Nam exported an estimated 5.7 million tonnes of rice. The full-year volume is projected at about 7.7 million tonnes.
PORT THROUGHPUT IN HẢI PHÒNG EXCEEDS EIGHT-MONTH TARGET
Ports in the northern city of Hải Phòng handled an estimated 134.34 million tonnes of goods in the first eight months of 2026, exceeding the eight-month target of 115 million tonnes by 16.8 per cent and rising 11.74 per cent year on year, equivalent to 56.2 per cent of the full-year plan. The strong performance followed a series of measures to optimise port capacity and improve the competitiveness of the city’s seaport system, with a focus on maximising the efficiency of the Lạch Huyện international gateway port as new berths came into operation.
VIỆT NAM’S RICE EXPORTS REACH $2.91 BILLION IN EIGHT MONTHS
Việt Nam exported an estimated 6.03 million tonnes of rice worth nearly US$2.91 billion in the first eight months of 2026, down 5 per cent in volume and 10.7 per cent in value year-on-year, reported the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment. However, rice export prices have shown signs of recovery since July. The average export price in July reached $511 per tonne, up 5.8 per cent year-on-year, marking the first annual increase this year.
NEW R&D RULE COULD SPUR MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN ADDITIONAL TECH INVESTMENT
Việt Nam’s proposed requirement that leading digital technology companies spend at least 3 per cent of their annual revenue on research and development (R&D) can help add hundreds of millions of dollars for innovation, as the country seeks to build globally competitive technology firms. This is one of eight proposed criteria for Vietnamese digital technology companies seeking to be seen as on par with firms in advanced economies, according to a draft circular recently unveiled by the Ministry of Science and Technology for public comment.
LÂM ĐỒNG BUILDS TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE AS FOUNDATION FOR GROWTH
With its mountains, highlands and long coastline brought together under one administrative roof, the enlarged Lâm Đồng is now Việt Nam’s largest province by area – and a place where stronger transport links could help turn its diverse economic strengths into a more integrated engine of growth. Against this backdrop, the province is prioritising an integrated transport network to strengthen regional connectivity, expand development space and lay the foundation for sustainable socio-economic growth.
HÀ NỘI'S BUSINESSES URGE ACTION ON CAPITAL, LOGISTICS BOTTLENECKS TO BOOST EXPORTS
Business associations and enterprises in Hà Nội have urged the city to tackle bottlenecks in financing, logistics, infrastructure and regulations to improve competitiveness, expand production and support export growth, as the capital seeks to sustain double-digit economic expansion. Mạc Quốc Anh, vice chairman and secretary general of the Hanoi Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (Hanoisme), said exports were not simply about selling goods overseas but also reflected a company's production capacity, management, ability to meet international standards and reputation.
HÀ NỘI BUDGET REVENUE REACHES $20 BILLION IN FIRST EIGHT MONTHS
Hà Nội's State budget revenue reached an estimated VNĐ521.3 trillion (US$20 billion) in the first eight months of 2026, completing more than 80 per cent of the full-year target, supported by strong contributions from private and foreign-invested enterprises. According to the Hanoi Statistics Office, total State budget revenue collected in the capital by the end of August was equivalent to 80.2 per cent of the annual estimate and up 8.9 per cent from the same period in 2025.
DOMESTIC DEMAND DRIVES STEEL GROWTH AS CONSTRUCTION GATHERS PACE
The steel industry recorded double-digit growth in both production and sales in the first seven months of 2026, while export remained more subdued, highlighting the increasing importance of domestic demand as public investment and construction activity expand. According to the World Steel Association, Việt Nam produced around 15.2 million tonnes of crude steel in the first half of 2026, up 26.9 per cent year-on-year, keeping the country among the world's 10 largest steel producers.
