Blog

Vietnam recording a trade surplus of approximately $1.82 billion, marking its second consecutive period of export surplus.

Vietnam’s total import-export turnover reached an estimated $56.68 billion in the first half of October 2026, up 3.31% from the first half of September, according to preliminary data from the Vietnam Customs.

Exports reached $29.25 billion, up 12.41%, while imports totalled $27.43 billion, down 4.9%. The country therefore recorded a trade surplus of approximately $1.82 billion in the period, marking its second consecutive period of export surplus.

Cumulative trade turnover reached $945.07 billion by October 15, marking a 31.43% increase compared with the same period last year.

Export growth remained concentrated in several key product categories rather than being evenly distributed across the country’s export structure.

Computers, electronic products and components continued to lead, generating approximately $11.59 billion in exports during the first half of October, up 21.17% from the previous period. The increase of more than $2.03 billion was the largest in absolute terms among major export categories, underscoring the sector’s importance to Vietnam’s export performance.

Exports of machinery, equipment, tools and spare parts reached around $3.58 billion, rising 5%, or $170.41 million, compared with the first half of September.

Textile and garment exports totalled approximately $1.57 billion, up 2.8%, while footwear exports approached $980 million, an increase of 23.82%.

In contrast, imports fell by nearly 5% from the previous period, declining by approximately $1.41 billion.

Vietnam's merger and acquisition market recorded 30 announced transactions in September, with 23 disclosing or estimating values totalling approximately $1.74 billion.

According to a monthly report released on October 22 by Grant Thornton Vietnam, September's activity was driven by restructuring and related-party transactions, with four deals contributing approximately $1.23 billion, or 70.7 per cent of total transaction value.

The most notable transaction was VinFast Vietnam JSC's agreement to acquire 100 per cent of the equity interests in Ngoc Hoi Real Estate Investment JSC for approximately $1.2 billion.

By volume, logistics and infrastructure led with four deals, accounting for 14 per cent of transactions during the month. Real estate, consumer, industrials, and financials each recorded three deals, together accounting for 40 per cent of announced transactions.

Excluding restructuring and related-party transactions, consumer, metals and mining were the leading sectors in September, recording total deal values of approximately $183.8 million and $124.8 million, respectively, and together accounting for 61 per cent of total disclosed/estimable transaction value.

Notable transactions included the transfer of shares in Thanh Thanh Cong – Bien Hoa JSC, valued at nearly $179 million, and Elmet Group’s acquisition of a 4.99 per cent stake in Masan High-Tech Materials Corporation at approximately $138 million.

The food and beverage sector ranked third, with a transaction value of approximately $88.4 million, equivalent to 18 per cent of the market’s total deal value.

In logistics, CMC JSC approved the acquisition of a 99.9 per cent equity in TTL Holdings Investment Co., Ltd, the transaction value was not disclosed. Previously, TTL Holdings planned to acquire more than 25 per cent of the shares in Thang Long Joint Stock Corporation from TNG Investment and Construction Co., Ltd, a shareholder holding approximately 50.5 per cent of TTL’s capital.

The transaction is viewed as part of an ownership restructuring within the broader Tasco-DNP ecosystem associated with Vu Dinh Do, chairman of Tasco JSC.

Specifically, CMC is a subsidiary of DNP Holdings, while TNG Investment and Construction is also connected to this ecosystem through Pham Quoc Khanh, TNG’s largest shareholder. Khanh has also been a major shareholder of DNP Holdings since 2014 and is a founding shareholder of VII Holding, a major shareholder of Tasco.

In consumer, Thanh Thanh Cong Investment JSC (TTC Investment) and Huynh Bich Ngoc registered to sell a combined total of more than 200 million shares in Thanh Thanh Cong – Bien Hoa JSC, with an estimated value of approximately VND4.65 trillion ($178.8 million).

In metals and mining, Elmet Group completed the acquisition of 55.14 million shares in Masan High-Tech Materials Corporation from Masan Horizon Co., Ltd., representing 4.99 per cent of its charter capital, for a total transaction value of approximately VND3,240 billion (approximately $138 million).

The transaction forms part of a plan to restructure MSR’s ownership in preparation for a listing on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange.

In financials, Bolt Holdings JSC and Chu Tuan An, the chairman of UP Securities JSC, registered to subscribe for more than 62.6 million shares and 5 million shares, respectively, in UPS’s private placement, for an aggregate value of approximately VND676.6 billion (approximately $26 million).

Following the transaction, Bolt Holdings is expected to hold 62.82 per cent of UPS’s charter capital and become its controlling shareholder.

In energy, REE Energy Co., Ltd. divested its entire holding of over 8 million shares in Su Pan 2 Hydropower JSC to Ha Thanh Energy Development JSC for an estimated value of approximately VND282 billion ($10.8 million).

Following the transaction, Ha Thanh Energy became SP2’s largest shareholder, with a 39.12 per cent stake. Established in 2006, SP2 owns the Su Pan 2 Hydropower Project in Lao Cai Province, with an installed capacity of 34.5 MW and a total investment of VND1,245 billion ($47.9 million).

In agriculture and livestock, BAF Vietnam Agriculture JSC will acquire a 75 per cent stake in the charter capital of Hung Phat Farm Mot Co., Ltd. from Nguyen Tran Tuan Cuong for VND162 billion (approximately $6.2 million).

Following the transaction, BAF will increase its ownership in the company from 25 to 100 per cent. Hung Phat Farm Mot is one of the entities associated with BAF’s strategy to expand high-tech livestock farming in Gia Lai.

Beyond, Sojitz Corporation completed the acquisition of more than 14.9 million shares in Taseco Air Services JSC for approximately VND 1,053 billion ($40.5 million) and Mekong Capital completed the sale of its entire investment in Mutosi Group JSC to Ariston Group, a multinational group specialising in heating and water solutions, the deal value was not disclosed. Following the transaction, Ariston Group will hold 83 per cent of Mutosi’s charter capital, while the management team will continue to hold a 17 per cent equity stake.

All operational preparations expected for completion in October with the aim of facilitating actual transactions from November.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Van Thang has called on the operating authorities of Vietnam’s international financial centers in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang to complete all operational preparations in October 2026, with the aim of facilitating actual transactions from November.

Speaking at a meeting on October 22, he stressed the need to ensure financial security, address institutional obstacles promptly and establish the conditions necessary for the centres to begin operating effectively.

According to a recent report by the Ministry of Finance, the ministry and relevant agencies have reported to Prime Minister Le Mình Hung and Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Van Thang on the consolidation of the centers’ executive councils, the issuance of a development plan through 2035 and the adoption of operational regulations.

Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang have approved staffing structures and allocated personnel, funding, office premises and technological infrastructure to support the centers

Investment promotion activities have also been conducted in several countries. Banks, securities firms, asset management organisations and investors have signed memorandums of understanding, made commitments or submitted applications to participate.

The Ministry of Finance’s leadership has held direct discussions with commercial banks and financial institutions to identify transactions that could be launched in the near term, marking a shift from institutional development and membership recruitment towards actual financial activity.

Deputy Prime Minister Thang said financial products traded at the international financial centres could be considered for introduction in Vietnam, provided they suit domestic conditions, regulatory capacity and risk-control requirements.

Initial priorities will include transactions with established links between capital providers and borrowers, particularly products that mobilise and supply medium- and long-term funding in line with Vietnam’s development priorities.