China Imports Drive Vietnam’s 8% 2025 Growth, Record U.S. Surplus

China exports to Vietnam surged in 2025 as Vietnam grew 8%, ran a record U.S. surplus, and imported $186 billion in Chinese goods.
A worker at a garment factory in Vietnam's Thai Nguyen Province on July 2, 2025. China exports to Vietnam surged in 2025 as Vietnam grew 8%, ran a record U.S. surplus, and imported $186 billion in Chinese goods. (Photo by Nhac NGUYEN / AFP)

Vietnam’s economy expanded 8% in 2025, preliminary government data showed on Monday. The country posted a record trade surplus with the United States and record imports from China, after Washington imposed 20% tariffs from August.

Vietnam shipped $153.2 billion of goods to the United States last year and logged a Vietnam-side trade surplus of $133.9 billion with Washington.

  • Get a daily email packed with the latest news and analysis from Africa, Asia, and across the Global South.
  • Read exclusive insights on the key trends shaping China’s relations across the Global South.
  • Full access to the News Feed that provides daily updates on Chinese engagement in the Global South.

China, Africa and the Global South... find out what’s happening.

Subscribe today for unlimited access.

OR

Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More
by Edwin Shri Bimo

Most Read

1
Developing Countries’ Debt Servicing Costs to China Are Significant, but Nowhere Near as Much as Other Creditors
2
Uncertainty Roils Minerals Markets
3 Chinese Scholars See Russia’s Venezuela Strategy as a Model of Hybrid Power Projection in the U.S.’ Backyard
4 From J-10C to Kaan? Indonesia’s Fighter Jet Deal With Turkey Shocks Chinese Military Fans
5 Chinese Military Fans Discuss Why Indonesia Bought Rafale Instead of J-10C
6
Indonesia Goes Nuclear, Taps China and Russia for Modular Reactors

What is The China-Global South Project?

Independent

The China-Global South Project is passionately independent, non-partisan and does not advocate for any country, company or culture.

News

A carefully curated selection of the day’s most important China-Global South stories. Updated 24 hours a day by human editors. No bots, no algorithms.

Analysis

Diverse, often unconventional insights from scholars, analysts, journalists and a variety of stakeholders in the China-Global South discourse.

Networking

A unique professional network of China-Africa scholars, analysts, journalists and other practioners from around the world.

More about CGSP