Export momentum strengthens Hai Phong's growth outlook

Nearly USD 26 billion in export turnover and more than USD 21.6 billion in import turnover during the first six months of 2026 not only reflect the expanding scale of Hai Phong's trade but also demonstrate the city's growing manufacturing capacity and the solid foundations of its economic development.

Against a backdrop of persistent global economic uncertainty, geopolitical conflicts, and ongoing disruptions to international supply chains, these results indicate that Hai Phong has maintained stable economic growth while steadily enhancing its competitiveness and deepening its integration into global value chains.

Export turnover increased by more than 8% year-on-year, surpassing the city's six-month growth target. This achievement reflects not only a larger volume of exported goods but, more importantly, the continued strong performance of the manufacturing sector, the effectiveness of the investment environment, and the sound direction of Hai Phong's industrial development strategy.

Notably, South Korea, Japan, and the European Union remain Hai Phong's key export markets. These are also among the world's most demanding markets in terms of product quality, technical standards, and sustainability requirements.

The fact that products from Hai Phong continue to maintain a strong presence in these markets demonstrates that local enterprises have steadily improved not only their production capacity but also the quality of their products and their ability to meet international standards.

On the import side, a nearly 17% increase in import turnover is also an encouraging sign. For a major industrial hub like Hai Phong, most imports consist of machinery, equipment, components, and raw materials serving manufacturing activities.

Rising imports indicate that factories are expanding production, businesses continue to invest in manufacturing, and enterprises are preparing resources for new orders. This serves as an important indicator of business confidence in both market prospects and the city's investment environment.

Behind these growth figures lies the effectiveness of Hai Phong's long-term investment in key growth drivers. Its modern seaport system, increasingly well-connected transport infrastructure, expanding logistics network, and strong ability to attract foreign direct investment—particularly in high-tech industries—have created significant competitive advantages. These strengths not only facilitate faster cargo movement and lower production costs but also position the city as an increasingly important link in regional and global supply chains.

Nevertheless, the greatest significance of these achievements lies not in the size of the trade figures but in the quality of growth. Amid intensifying global competition, sustainable growth in exports and imports can only be achieved by increasing value-added production, developing high-tech and supporting industries, and gradually raising the localization rate of export products. This is also the path for Hai Phong to evolve beyond being merely a manufacturing and transshipment hub into a competitive regional center for innovation, advanced manufacturing, and logistics.

Looking at the results of the first half of the year, it is evident that Hai Phong has not only maintained its growth momentum but has also accumulated new drivers for future development. One year after the administrative merger, the city now benefits from a broader development space, more effectively integrated resources, and stronger synergies among its industrial, port, and logistics sectors. These advantages provide substantial room for Hai Phong to continue accelerating growth, improve the quality of its development, and further strengthen its position as one of Vietnam's leading centers for the marine economy, industry, and logistics.

Bui Hanh

Bui Hanh