Vietnam’s trade deficit widened to USD 3.6 billion in July, exceeding consensus, but the dong remains stable amid strong FDI inflows.
Vietnam’s trade deficit expanded to USD 3.6 billion in July, up from USD 2.6 billion in June, driven by surging imports of energy and capital goods. The print surpassed Bloomberg’s consensus estimate of USD 2.5 billion, marking the eighth consecutive monthly deficit.
Inflation eased to 4.5% year-on-year in July, aligning with the central bank’s target. Meanwhile, foreign direct investment disbursements rose 11.8% year-on-year in the first seven months of 2026, signaling resilient investment momentum.
Despite external pressures, including EU carbon tariffs and US anti-dumping measures on steel, the USD/VND pair traded at 26,277, with the dong slightly stronger year-to-date.