Vietnam’s imports from the United States have surged by almost 24% in the first nine months of 2025, driven by strong demand for agricultural products, raw materials, and high-tech equipment.
Rising Demand for U.S. Agricultural Products
Fruit importers in Vietnam report steady growth in demand for American produce such as apples, grapes, cherries, and red-fleshed oranges.
“As the U.S. enters its apple and orange season, our company’s import expenses for these fruits have risen by about 50%,” said Đàm Thu Vân, a fruit importer in Ho Chi Minh City. “American agricultural products remain highly attractive to Vietnamese consumers thanks to their quality and reasonable pricing.”
Meanwhile, cotton, soybeans, and livestock feed are leading categories showing exceptional growth. The U.S. maintained its position as Vietnam’s largest cotton supplier, accounting for nearly half of total imports.
According to the General Department of Customs, Vietnam imported 1.3 million tons of cotton worth US$2.2 billion in the first nine months — up 19% in volume and 3% in value year-on-year.
Soybean imports from the U.S. have also surged nearly 30%, with Vietnam spending US$301.5 million on 667,000 tons — representing one-third of the country’s total soybean import value.
Expanding Bilateral Trade Commitments
In June 2025, Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development signed eight memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with U.S. partners, worth nearly US$3 billion, to import agricultural goods such as corn, wheat, and soybean meal.
Trần Thanh Phong, Director of Thiên Bút Trading & Service Co., said his firm’s imports of frozen meat from the U.S. — including beef, pork, and chicken — increased by 30% compared to last year.
“If the import tariff on U.S. frozen chicken thighs drops from 15% to 5%, I believe many companies will shift to sourcing more from the American market,” he added.
Growing Interest in U.S. High-Tech Products
Beyond agriculture, Vietnam is also importing more machinery, medical devices, and advanced technology from the U.S.
Nguyễn Lý Trường An, Deputy Director of SeaAir Global, noted that “U.S. logistics and high-tech solutions are among the world’s best, and as Vietnam modernizes its logistics sector, demand for U.S. technology naturally rises.”
During a meeting on October 23, Deputy Prime Minister Bùi Thanh Sơn reaffirmed Vietnam’s commitment to expanding imports of U.S. goods, particularly semiconductors and aircraft, to strengthen bilateral trade ties.
U.S. Ambassador Marc Knapper emphasized that Washington looks forward to finalizing the bilateral tax agreement soon, underscoring the importance of deepening economic cooperation between the two countries.
Experts: High-Tech Imports to Drive Next Wave of Growth
According to Prof. Dr. Võ Xuân Vinh, Director of the Business Research Institute at HCMC University of Economics, imports from the U.S. have grown “in line with the two nations’ efforts to balance trade.”
“As Vietnam accelerates its technology-driven development, high-quality American machinery and semiconductor products will help boost efficiency and sustainability,” he said.
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Source: Vietnam Insider