Nghi Sơn port, Thanh Hoa
Activities in export on the territory of Thanh Hóa province in July 2025 continued to record positive growth. According to information from the Thanh Hóa Provincial People’s Committee, the value of exported goods in the month was estimated at USD 667 million, up 21.7% compared to the same period last year. Several key export items maintained impressive growth in both volume and value.
In detail, exported livestock meat reached 100 tonnes, up 84.3% year-on-year; travel backpacks numbered 1.3 million units (up 48.7%); wood chips reached 112 thousand m³ (up 28.6%); garments totaled 55.1 million products (up 20.3%); footwear reached 44.1 million pairs (up 20.2%); and cement totaled 164,786 tonnes (up 17.8%).
Cumulatively over the first 7 months of 2025, Thanh Hóa’s total export value is estimated at USD 4.1 billion, up 21.8% compared to the same period in 2024 and achieving 51.5% of the year's plan. This result continues to affirm the increasingly important role of the export sector in the local economic structure.
ENTERPRISES CAPITALIZE ON FTAs AND EXPAND MARKETS THROUGH DIGITAL COMMERCE
Currently, Thanh Hóa has more than 230 enterprises directly participating in exports, with a diverse range of goods, from agricultural products, seafood, textiles, to construction materials and electronic components. To expand markets, many enterprises have proactively leveraged advantages of new-generation free trade agreements such as EVFTA, CPTPP, UKVFTA and RCEP.
According to the Provincial Department of Industry and Trade, in the first 6 months of 2025, approximately 47% of the province’s export turnover enjoyed preferential tariffs from these FTAs, an increase of 6 percentage points compared to the same period last year. This is the result of the coordinated efforts of local authorities in disseminating policies, supporting enterprises with rules of origin procedures, and building competitive capacity suitable for high-standard markets.
Alongside leveraging FTAs, enterprises have also intensified international trade promotion activities to seek opportunities to approach partners and capture global consumption trends. In 2024 and the first half of 2025, the province supported many enterprises to participate in trade fairs and exhibitions at major international trade centers. Additionally, organizing seminars and online trade matching sessions via platforms like Zoom, Webex, and Google Meet helped businesses save costs and broaden their outreach amid the growing digital transformation.
A notable highlight is the strong shift towards cross-border e-commerce. Many SMEs in Thanh Hóa are leveraging platforms like Amazon, Alibaba, or specialized e-commerce marketplaces to deliver goods directly to international consumers, shortening intermediaries and enhancing export efficiency.
Thanks to well-invested digital marketing strategies, optimized online distribution channels, and utilization of full-package logistics services, many enterprises have recorded significant revenue growth from online channels shortly after implementation. This is emerging as a promising direction to unlock markets—especially for manufacturers with strong production capacity but limited consumption networks.
Thanh Hóa aims to reach an export turnover of USD 8 billion in 2025. To realize this goal, the locality clearly defines the pivotal role of technological innovation, market diversification, and promotion of green transformation in production. Along with that, supporting SMEs in accessing preferential capital, enhancing governance capacity, and conducting market analysis is also considered a priority task.
Maintaining markets and customers amid fierce competition is a significant challenge for exporting enterprises. In Thanh Hóa, many units are proactively changing managerial mindsets, gradually building professional, systematic, and sustainable production models. Lam Sơn Sugar Joint Stock Company – currently present in more than 10 countries – is implementing a low-carbon agricultural model with traceability from the plantation area, aimed at meeting stringent international market requirements for sustainability and “greening” supply chains.
REDUCED IMPORTS, DOMESTIC MARKET BUOYANT
In contrast, Thanh Hóa's import value of goods in July is estimated at USD 704.8 million, down 26.3% compared to the same period in 2024. Some key import categories recorded significant declines, such as crude oil at 848 thousand tonnes (74.5% YoY), machinery, equipment and spare parts at USD 34.08 million (70.4%).
However, some categories saw increases, such as clothing fabrics at USD 46.4 million (up 17.3%), garment accessories at USD 6.4 million (up 17%), and footwear accessories at USD 24.02 million (up 15.9%).
Cumulatively over the first 7 months, Thanh Hóa’s total import value reached approximately USD 5,674.8 million, equal to 89.6% compared to the same period last year.
Alongside import–export activities, the domestic market in the province in July also became more vibrant thanks to the increased number of tourists at local destinations. Total retail sales of goods and service revenue in July are estimated at VND 18,800 billion, up 9.7% YoY. For the 7 months of 2025, this figure reached approximately VND 123,900 billion, up 11% and achieving 59.3% of the year’s plan.
Source: vneconomy.vn
