🌍 How U.S. Import Partners Have Shifted – Vietnam’s Rising Role
26/09/2025
🌍 How U.S. Import Partners Have Shifted – Vietnam’s Rising Role
Global trade flows are never static — they mirror geopolitics, supply chain resilience strategies, and shifting cost structures. The latest data on U.S. imports between 2017 and 2024 shows a striking realignment of partners, with Vietnam emerging as one of the biggest winners!
📉 Losing Ground
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China: –1.2 percentage points
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Japan: –0.6
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Russia: –0.5
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Saudi Arabia: –0.1
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Philippines: –0.1
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Indonesia: –0.1
📊 Stable Partners
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Canada, Chile, Brazil: 0.0 (no net change)
📈 Winners
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Turkey: +0.1
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Cambodia: +0.2
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EU: +0.3
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Thailand & Singapore: +0.6 each
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India: +0.7
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South Korea: +1.1
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Taiwan: +1.6
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Vietnam: +2.0
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Mexico: +2.2
🇻🇳 Vietnam’s Trade Momentum
Vietnam stands out with a +2.0 percentage point increase — the second-largest gain after Mexico. This growth underscores Vietnam’s position as a strategic manufacturing hub and an increasingly preferred alternative to China for U.S. importers.
Several factors drive this momentum:
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Diversification from China: Trade tensions and tariffs have accelerated the “China+1” strategy, with Vietnam a top beneficiary.
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Competitive Manufacturing Base: Vietnam combines cost efficiency with improving infrastructure and a skilled labor force.
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Global Trade Agreements: Participation in CPTPP, RCEP, and multiple bilateral agreements has made Vietnam more accessible to international businesses.
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Sector Strengths: Electronics, textiles, footwear, and furniture continue to dominate, while tech-related supply chains are steadily expanding.
🔎 Key Takeaways for Trade & Business Strategy
- Nearshoring to Mexico – Mexico leads gains, reflecting U.S. companies’ push for shorter, more resilient supply chains.
- ASEAN Surge – Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia are strengthening their role as competitive manufacturing bases.
- India Rising – Strong demographics and policy reforms are helping India gain share.
- China’s Decline – Still dominant, but trade tensions, tariffs, and security concerns have reduced reliance.
- Supply Chain Rebalancing – Companies are actively recalibrating sourcing strategies to mitigate risks tied to geopolitics, logistics, and compliance.
💡 Why It Matters for Corporates & Traders
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Fiduciary & Structuring: Companies sourcing from Vietnam must adapt their legal and corporate setups to fit local and international frameworks.
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Compliance: New jurisdictions mean different taxation, regulatory, and reporting obligations.
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Risk Management: Political, trade, and operational risk frameworks need continuous updating.
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Logistics & Trade Finance: Vietnam’s ports, shipping lines, and financing systems are scaling up to meet rising demand.
👉 For businesses eyeing Asia, Vietnam’s rise is not just a trend — it’s a long-term shift in global supply chains. Proactive companies are already positioning themselves to leverage Vietnam’s growing role in U.S. trade.
👉 Is your business ready to seize Vietnam’s trade momentum? Explore how GTI Partner can help you structure, expand, and stay compliant in Vietnam to take advantage of this long-term shift in U.S. import dynamics.
𝑺𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒄𝒆: 𝑽𝒐𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒐𝒊 𝒃𝒚 𝑽𝒊𝒔𝒖𝒂𝒍 𝑪𝒂𝒑𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒕

