Second quarter GDP increased by 8.39%

On the morning of July 3, the Statistics Department held a press conference on the economic situation in the first half of the year. Accordingly, GDP in the second quarter is estimated to increase by 8.39% over the same period last year. In the first 6 months of the year, GDP increased by 8.18%, higher than the same period last year (7.63%).

The industry, construction and service sectors still account for the highest proportion, supporting the economy.

In the industrial and construction sector, the industry maintained positive growth thanks to strengthened growth drivers, recovery of export orders and positive spillover effects of public investment. The added value of the entire industry in 6 months increased by 9.86% over the same period last year, contributing 40.35% to the growth rate of the total added value of the entire economy.

The service, trade, transportation… sectors achieved good growth thanks to high consumer demand and vibrant circulation of goods and people’s travel. The added value of this area was 8.09% over the same period last year.

Otherwise, agriculture maintains stable growth, agricultural export markets continue to expand. The added value of this area was 3.57% over the same period last year.

In the first half of the year, Vietnam estimated a trade deficit of 16.65 billion USD, reversing compared to the same period last year (trade surplus of 7.95 billion USD). Total trade turnover reached 549.7 billion USD, of which exports and imports both increased by 21-37.3% over the same period last year.

In the first 6 months, Vietnam exported the most to the US with 86.5 billion USD, and imported the largest amount from China with a turnover of 115.2 billion USD.

Also according to the Department of Statistics, there were about 169,800 newly established businesses returning to the market in the first 6 months of the year, an average of 28,300 units per month. In addition, about 151,100 businesses temporarily suspended business and withdrew from the market, or an average of 25,200 units.

The results of the survey on business trends of the processing and manufacturing industry group in the second quarter also showed that the number of optimistic businesses accounted for 36.3%. The number of businesses assessing better business trends in the third quarter is expected to increase to 39.4%.

Consumer price index (CPI) The average increase in the second quarter was 5.25% compared to the same period last year. On average, in the first 6 months of 2025, CPI increased by 4.38% over the same period last year, core inflation increased by 4.12%.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Huong, Director of the Statistics Department, assessed the growth rate in the first half of the year as “positive”, in the context of the world’s economic and political situation continuing to fluctuate unpredictably, armed conflicts increasing and many uncertain factors.

According to her, the domestic macroeconomy continues to be stable, inflation is controlled at an appropriate level, while supply and demand of essential goods are guaranteed, domestic consumption and tourism have increased quite well.

However, she forecasts that the economy will still face many difficulties in the second half of the year due to its high openness and will be significantly affected by world economic and political fluctuations. “The double-digit growth target for the whole year is still a big challenge when the economy is highly open and subject to many external influences,” said the Director of the Statistics Department.

She recommended that operators manage gasoline prices flexibly, avoiding simultaneous adjustments to State-managed products to reduce inflationary pressure. At the same time, management agencies need to speed up procedures, disburse public investment, stimulate domestic consumption and expand export markets.