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Foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs) in Vietnam are sharply increasing imports of machinery, equipment, components, and raw materials as they expand production capacity and meet growing export demand.

According to the National Statistics Office, FIEs imported US$42.87 billion worth of goods in July, up 9.3% from June and 48.2% year on year. Their total imports in the first seven months of the year reached nearly US$248 billion, an increase of 39.2% from the same period in 2025.

The sector's import growth significantly outpaced its export growth, which stood at 26.4% during the period. The surge reflects rising demand for production inputs as numerous high-tech projects begin operations and existing manufacturers expand their capacity.

Computers, electronic products, and components accounted for the largest share of imports, reaching US$132.4 billion, more than 60% higher than a year earlier. The sharp increase highlights strong demand for electronic components, semiconductor chips, circuit boards, and other high-tech parts used in manufacturing.

Multinational electronics companies have continued expanding production in Vietnam since late 2025, driving demand for imported inputs to fulfill orders from major markets including the United States, the European Union, and Northeast Asia.

Within this category, electronics, computers, and components generated US$85.71 billion in imports, up 50.1%, while telephones and components reached US$38.5 billion, up 18.6%.

Machinery, equipment, tools, and spare parts ranked second, with imports approaching US$28 billion, up 17% year on year. Combined imports of these two major groups totaled US$160.4 billion.

The rise in machinery and equipment imports reflects continued investment by FIEs in production expansion, assembly-line modernisation, and new projects in Vietnam.

The trend is also supported by rising disbursement of foreign direct investment (FDI). Realised FDI capital hit US$15.2 billion in the first seven months, up 11.8% year on year and marking the highest level recorded for the January-July period in five years.

The surge in imports comes as foreign-invested companies continue to play a dominant role in Vietnam's trade, accounting for 80.1% of total export turnover.

Vietnam's overall exports approached US$320 billion in the first seven months, up nearly 22% year on year, while imports rose 34.8% to more than US$340 billion.

Import demand is expected to remain strong toward the end of the year as global demand rises ahead of the festive season and the new Year holiday period, while Vietnamese manufacturers fulfill a large volume of orders from international buyers. Higher imports of machinery, components, and raw materials are therefore likely to continue as businesses secure the inputs needed to maintain production.

These three projects, with a total investment of nearly $460 million, will facilitate a transportation network linking the airport to industrial zones and seaports, while significantly boosting logistics development in the southern city.

Southern Dong Nai City is accelerating the construction and site clearance of the 770B, 769, and 773 road projects designed to finalize the connectivity network for Long Thanh International Airport.

These three projects, with a total investment of nearly VND12 trillion (approximately $460 million), will facilitate a transportation network linking the airport to industrial zones and seaports, while significantly boosting logistics development in the southern city.

Among them, Provincial Road 770B is a new route stretching over 42 km through nine communes and wards. In Phase 1, the road is being developed with six motor lanes and a width of 45.5 m.

Once completed, the route will link the city’s eastern and northeastern regions to the airport, industrial parks, the Bien Hoa–Vung Tau Expressway, National Highway 51, and the Cai Mep–Thi Vai seaport complex.

The project to upgrade and expand Road 773 spans approximately 39 km and will feature 6 to 8 lanes upon completion. Passing through six communes and wards, it serves as a key link between the southeastern areas of Dong Nai and the airport.

Meanwhile, the 30-km upgrade of Road 769 acts as an arterial route for transporting goods from northern provinces and the Central Highlands to the Long Thanh and Nhon Trach areas. It also connects directly to the northeastern gateway of Long Thanh Airport.

According to the Provincial Investment and Construction Project Management Board, as of late July 2026, more than 131 ha of land have been handed over for the Provincial Road 770B, reaching approximately 49% of the required area. Road 773 has received nearly 70 ha (over 31%), while Road 769 has seen over 56 ha handed over (over 41%).

In addition to these three routes, Dong Nai is implementing several other key traffic projects to support the airport, including: Component Project 1 of the Bien Hoa–Vung Tau Expressway; Component Project 3 of the Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 3; and the upgrade and construction of roads 25B and 25C.

With Long Thanh International Airport scheduled to begin Phase 1 commercial operations by late 2026, Dong Nai authorities are demanding that investors and contractors accelerate construction progress. The city is also focusing on resolving land clearance bottlenecks to ensure that all connecting traffic infrastructure is completed in synchronization with the airport’s opening.

Investment incentives are no longer the decisive factor for foreign investors choosing Vietnam as an investment destination, with policy predictability, human capital, and the strength of the supporting ecosystem becoming increasingly important, said the CEO of Nestlé Vietnam.

Speaking at a government forum titled “Resolution 10: Developing a high-quality FDI ecosystem,” held by the Government Information and Communications Department on Friday, Binu Jacob, CEO of Nestlé Vietnam, said foreign investors had traditionally placed significant emphasis on investment incentives.

But the introduction of the global minimum tax has changed the equation, he said, with incentives increasingly serving as a supplementary factor rather than the core reason for multinational companies to invest or expand in Vietnam.

For global groups such as Nestlé, the first decisive factor is their confidence in the strategic direction set by the Vietnamese government, Jacob said.

A transparent and predictable policy framework is also critical, he noted, adding that while policy adjustments are inevitable as an economy develops, changes should follow a predictable roadmap.

What investors fear most is uncertainty and instability that cannot be anticipated, he stressed.

Jacob highlighted that the quality of Vietnam’s workforce is another key pillar supporting long-term investment decisions, alongside a strong supporting ecosystem that would allow multinational companies to implement long-term investment strategies.

Even if these conditions are not yet fully developed, clear government commitments to improving them could give investors greater confidence to expand, he stated.

The executive said Vietnam has recently made notable progress in governance and sent increasingly positive signals about its policy direction.

The country is among the few countries in the region to demonstrate what he described as a relatively consistent strategic vision, while its investment environment remains stable and its policy framework relatively predictable.

The country also has strong human capital, particularly among its younger generation, which Jacob described as having significant potential. The supporting ecosystem remains an area where Vietnam needs further development, he added.

While the current ecosystem does not yet fully meet investors’ expectations, links between foreign companies, domestic businesses, educational institutions, and research organizations are becoming increasingly established.

He said concrete policy measures and actions to strengthen those links would send a strong signal to investors.

Creating a more business-friendly environment would also allow domestic companies to strengthen their capabilities and become more reliable partners for multinational corporations, the executive remarked.

For foreign investors, long-term cooperation with suppliers ultimately rests on trust, he said. When strategic trust is established, foreign investors would certainly find effective solutions to challenges that arise.

According to the General Statistics Office, Vietnam lured $30.06 billion in registered foreign investment in the first seven months of this year, up 58% year-on-year, including $21.05 billion in newly-registered capital.