Vietnam Economic News: 22.11 - 29.11.2025
Summary of Vietnam Economic News: 22.11 - 29.11.2025
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Summary of Vietnam Economic News: 22.11 - 29.11.2025 ---
VIETNAM'S BINH SON REFINERY STEPS UP US OIL IMPORTS
Reuters News – 25 November 2025
Vietnam's Binh Son oil refinery is set to receive 1 million barrels of West Texas Intermediate crude in January, its second purchase in three months as it steps up imports from the United States, two sources familiar with the matter said on Tuesday. Vietnam has been seeking to buy more U.S. goods to narrow a trade gap between the two countries since Trump threatened in April to impose tariffs on Vietnamese products. Crude oil, liquefied natural gas, farm produce, and aircraft are among the U.S. goods that Vietnam is looking to import. Swiss trader Mercuria sold the 1-million-barrel cargo which will be delivered on January 7-11, the sources said. The companies typically do not comment on commercial deals. BSR last received 700,000 barrels of WTI on November 14, the country's first import since December 2024, data from shipping analytics firm Kpler showed. The refiner said on Sunday that its output of refined products in the first 11 months of this year is estimated at 7.24 million tons, exceeding its target. BSRhas been operating at 120% of designed capacity this year and is looking to ramp up to 123%-125% next year, it added.
HUAWEI, ZTE SEAL 5G DEALS IN VIETNAM AFTER US TARIFFS
Reuters News – 28 November 2025
China's leading telecommunication firms Huaweiand ZTE have won a string of contracts this year to supply 5G equipment in Vietnam, in another sign of Hanoi's strengthening bonds with Beijing, stirring concern among Western officials. For years, Vietnam was seen as reluctant to use Chinese technology in sensitive infrastructure, but in recent months it has embraced Chinese tech companies as sometimes frosty relations with its northern neighbour have warmed while ties with Washington have soured over tariffs on Vietnamese goods. While Sweden's Ericsson and Finland's Nokia secured contracts for Vietnam's 5G core infrastructure, with U.S. chipmaker Qualcomm providing network equipment, Chinese companies have begun winning smaller tenders with state-owned operators. A consortium including Huawei was awarded a $23 million contract for 5G equipment in April, weeks after the White House announced tariffs on Vietnamese goods. ZTE has won at least two contracts, one last week, totalling more than $20 million for 5G antennas. The first publicly disclosed deal came in September, a month after U.S. tariffs took effect. The exclusion of Chinese contractors from Vietnam's digital infrastructure, including undersea fibre-optic cables, has long been identified by Washington as a key condition for support in advanced technologies. Huawei and ZTE are banned from U.S. telecom networks as an "unacceptable risk" to national security. Sweden and other European countries have similar restrictions. Ericsson declined to comment on Chinese companies, but said it was "fully committed to support its customers in Vietnam." "Access to secure and trusted networks is key for all countries, increasingly so as more critical functions of society become digital," Sweden's foreign ministry said in a statement when asked about Chinese 5G contracts in Vietnam.
SOUTH KOREA BOUGHT ESTIMATED 20,500 TONS OF RICE IN TENDER, MOSTLY FROM VIETNAM
Reuters News – 26 November 2025
South Korea’s state-backed Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corp. purchased an estimated 20,500 metric tons of rice to be sourced mostly from Vietnam in an international tender seeking up to 78,744 tons which closed on November 5, European traders said on Wednesday. Of the total, 20,000 tons will be sourced from Vietnam and 500 tons from Thailand. Arrival in South Korea was sought in the tender for a series of consignments between December 15, 2025, and June 30, 2026. The corporation often takes some weeks to award purchases in tenders, often requesting that samples are sent to Korea for testing. The purchase comprised four 5,000-ton consignments of Vietnamese broken rice, with two bought from trading house MH Ethanol at $344.86 and $328.36 a ton cost and freight included (c&f) and two from Posco International at $334.50 and $332.90 a ton c&f.
VINFAST EARNS TWO PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS IN INDONESIA
Dow Jones Newswires German – 21 November 2025
The Road to CNBC Indonesia Awards 2025 has honored VinFast with two recognitions: "Pioneering Brand in Green Transition and “Sustainability" and "Compact SUV of the Year" for the VF 7. These achievements add to the growing list of accolades VinFast has earned in Indonesia and strengthen the company's role, reputation, and long-term vision in advancing green mobility across the archipelago. The “Sustainability" award is for its comprehensive approach to green mobility, from production, distribution, charging, aftersales, to initiatives that make electric vehicles accessible for Indonesian consumers, such as the innovative battery subscription policy. This, in turn, is making tangible contributions to Indonesia's green economy by creating jobs, enhancing industrial self-reliance, and accelerating the shift toward green transportation in Indonesia. More specifically, VinFast is steadily expanding a comprehensive ecosystem that includes electric vehicles, a nationwide network of dealerships and authorized service centers, a planned assembly plant in Subang, and strategic collaborations with partners such as Green SM and V-Green to strengthen charging infrastructure and operational services. At the award event, the C-segment VinFast VF 7 was also named "Compact SUV of the Year" for its harmonious balance of modern European design, smart technologies, and strong real-world usability. It is seen as a fitting choice for Indonesian consumers and reflects VinFast's commitment to environmentally friendly products. Previously, VinFast made a strong impression at the CNN Indonesia Awards 2025, winning "Outstanding Innovation in Sustainable Electric Mobility" and "Remarkable Contribution to Energy Independence". The company was recognized for introducing a new business model that makes electric vehicles more accessible to the public, helping reduce reliance on fossil fuels and supporting Indonesia's energy independence goals.