Vietnam imported an estimated US$263.3 billion worth of goods from around the globe in 2019, up by 58.8% since 2015 and up by 11.2% from 2018 to 2019.
Based on the average exchange rate for 2019, the Vietnamese dong depreciated by -6.2% against the US dollar since 2015 and slipped by -2% from 2018 to 2019. Vietnams weaker local currency makes its imports paid for in stronger US dollars, relatively more expensive when converted, starting from the Vietnamese dong.
From continental perspective and based on 2018 data, Vietnam bought about 80% of its import purchases from fellow Asian countries. Another 7.3% was purchased from trade partners in Europe with 6.2% coming from North America. Smaller percentages originated from Latin America (2.3%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Oceania (1.8%) led by Australia, and Africa (1.3%).
Given Vietnams population of 95.5 million people, its total $263.3 billion in 2019 imports translates to roughly $2,800 in yearly product demand from every person in the East Asian country.
The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in Vietnams import purchases during 2019. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into Vietnam.
• Electrical machinery, equipment: US$77.8 billion (29.5% of total imports)
• Machinery including computers: $26.8 billion (10.2%)
• Plastics, plastic articles: $14.6 billion (5.5%)
• Mineral fuels including oil: $11.2 billion (4.2%)
• Iron, steel: $10.5 billion (4%)
• Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $9.3 billion (3.5%)
• Vehicles: $6.9 billion (2.6%)
• Knit or crochet fabric: $6.5 billion (2.5%)
• Cotton: $4.7 billion (1.8%)
• Manmade filaments: $3.9 billion (1.5%)