HCMC – The Ministry of Industry and Trade will assign key performance indicators (KPIs) to Vietnam’s overseas trade offices, so that they can take a proactive role in policy recommendations, particularly by identifying alternative markets.
This initiative was highlighted during the Q1 trade promotion conference held on March 12, aimed at driving foreign trade to meet the Government’s export target for 2026 with a threshold of US$550 billion. This translates to an estimated monthly average export value of US$46 billion.
Vietnam has over 60 overseas trade offices and branches serves as a conduit connecting industry associations, businesses, and local authorities with international markets.
While major markets such as the U.S., China, India, South Korea, and several nations across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and the Americas recorded export growth exceeding 10%, others showed a different trend. Markets including Indonesia, Bangladesh, Nigeria and Australia saw low or declining growth.
According to the initiative, should export revenue in a specific market show signs of decline, trade offices must proactively identify and propose alternative markets to provide the ministry with a basis for developing support policies. Furthermore, the trade office network is required to strengthen early warning systems, providing timely information on commercial risks, changes in import policies, and trade defense measures from partner countries. This enables businesses to proactively formulate strategies and manage risks effectively.
In the first two months of 2026, Vietnam’s export revenue amounted to USS$76.39 billion, an 18.3% year-on-year increase. Geographically, exports to Asia led the way with US$34.3 billion, up 19.8%, driven by a 38.1% jump in shipments to China and steady gains in ASEAN and South Korea. The American market followed with US$27.3 billion, where the U.S. remained the largest destination, growing by 21.9%.
