State budget revenue from import and export activities in the first half of 2025 reached nearly 222.75 trillion VND (8.5 billion USD), equivalent to 54.2% of the annual target and representing a 10.3% increase, or 20.87 trillion VND, compared to the same period in 2024, the Department of Vietnam Customs reported on July 3.

Trade value for goods over the six months is estimated at 431.49 billion USD, marking a year-on-year increase of 16% or 59.49 billion USD. Of this, export turnover is projected to reach 219.34 billion USD, up 14.2%, or 27.29 billion USD, while import value is estimated at 212.15 billion USD, up 17.9%, or 32.2 billion USD.

Vietnam's trade balance in the first half of 2025 is estimated to show a surplus of 7.19 billion USD, a 40.6% decline compared to the figure recorded in the same period last year.

According to the department, anti-smuggling operations have been intensified across all regions and routes.

Smuggling, trade fraud, illegal cross-border transport of goods, counterfeiting, and violations of intellectual property rights remain complicated and serious, with numerous major cases uncovered along border routes, at border gates, and in coastal areas. Key categories of contraband include petroleum, dietary supplements, milk products, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, tobacco, narcotics, gold, and goods falsely labelled as originating in Vietnam.

Maritime routes accounted for the highest proportion of violations — 53.2% of the total cases — mostly at major seaports. Offences involved misdeclaration of goods names, types, customs values, HS codes, and origin. Land routes frequently experienced smuggling and transport of goods without proper documents, particularly in central Vietnam and along the borders with Laos, China, and Cambodia. Contraband on these routes often included fireworks, refined sugar, frozen food, consumer goods, and cigarettes.

Illegal transport of narcotics, currency, and gold across borders is reportedly on the rise, with increasingly sophisticated methods, particularly via air routes.

Since the beginning of 2025, customs authorities have discovered 8,561 cases of customs law violations, with an estimated value of seized goods totalling approximately 13.61 trillion VND. The amount recovered for the State budget stood at around 461.36 billion VND. The customs agency has initiated criminal proceedings in eight cases and transferred 54 cases to other competent authorities with recommendations for prosecution./.