Vietnamese ports in the top 30 in the Lloyd’s List ranking.
By Vietnam has three container ports among the top 30 in Lloyd’s List’s latest One Hundred Container Ports 2025 list. Ho Chi Minh City (22nd), Haiphong (29th), and Cai Mep (30th) all ranked highly. The annual growth in transshipment at these ports was equivalent to the combined throughput of all Polish container terminals.
The report emphasizes that Asian ports “maintained their leading position in global trade, with Chinese ports alone handling over 40% of total container traffic.” However, they are closely followed by other ports in countries benefiting from increased economic activity. Lloyd’s List’s editor notes that “emerging Asian economies, including India, Turkey, and Vietnam, have gained in popularity thanks to changes in supply chains and nearshoring trends.”
“Container ports have demonstrated remarkable resilience in the face of geopolitical instability and changing trade dynamics,” emphasizes Linton Nightingale, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Lloyd’s List. Ports listed on the “One Hundred Ports” list recorded a combined transshipment of 743.6 million TEU. This represents an 8.1% increase compared to the previous year and a reversal of the stagnation of recent years.
Poland and many other EU countries are failing to capitalize on the innovative potential and dynamism of Vietnamese industry, the dynamic development of Vietnamese logistics, seaports, and their hinterland. Vietnamese ports are significant beneficiaries of industrial development and export expansion. They are also a key participant in this process, playing a significant role in the development of export logistics for “Made in Vietnam” goods. The close links between seaports and industrial zones have produced extraordinary synergies. This is particularly evident in the efficiency and effectiveness of container terminals.
Vietnamese Seaports Leaders
Ports operating in Ho Chi Minh City recorded container transshipment in 2025, exceeding 9.1 million TEU. This was almost 29% more than in 2023. By comparison, ports operating in the Vietnamese capital region achieved container transshipment of close to 7.9 million TEU in 2021, representing an increase of approximately 1.3% compared to 2020. This rapid growth in transshipment at Vietnamese ports was certainly influenced by the launch of a comprehensive customs clearance system three years ago.
The seaport in Haiphong recorded transshipment exceeding 7.1 million TEU. This is almost 13% more than in 2023. In 2021, approximately 5.7 million TEU were transferred between quays and ships. However, the upward trend has already been noticeable, as the activity of the Vietnamese economy has resulted in an increase in container supply in this one port alone this year of approximately 10.8% compared to the time of the pandemic in 2020. In 2021, the container volume doubled compared to 2012.
The Cai Mep seaport exceeded 7 million TEU in 2024, a record-breaking volume, as cranes operated at full capacity, increasing container throughput by over 29% compared to 2023. More recently, in 2021, Cai Mep dockworkers handled 5.32 million TEU. This was a clear rebound for the Vietnamese economy and the port after the pandemic, as container supply increased by approximately 22%. Cai Mep International Container Port has been a leader among Asian container ports in terms of efficiency for many years.
Vietnamese seaports. Source: Vietnam “Government News.” Graphics: VG.
Vietnam’s 300 Ports
Vietnam has approximately 300 ports with a total quay length of approximately 110 km. Thirty-four major seaports ensure Vietnam’s international trade. International hubs operate in the northern and southern regions, capable of handling container ships ranging from 145,000 dwt at Lach Huyen (Hai Phong) to 214,000 dwt at Cai Mep Terminal (Ba Ria – Vung Tau).
Vietnam has large, dedicated terminals linked to industrial zones and integrated with steel mills, refineries, and coal-fired power plants. These terminals can handle ships up to 200,000 dwt. Fuel terminals, on the other hand, are capable of pumping liquid cargoes onto 150,000 dwt product carriers and transshipping crude oil to and from tankers up to 320,000 dwt. t.
Ports constitute a vital link between Vietnamese industry and international markets. Their operational efficiency is the foundation of Vietnam’s growing activity in the international market, which is similar to China’s. The Vietnamese Customs Service officially launched a comprehensive customs service system in May 2015 at international seaports in the provinces of Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Da Nang City, and Ho Chi Minh City.
In the three quarters of 2025, Vietnam’s export value increased by $51 billion. Numerous announcements from governments, port authorities, and businesses emphasize that efficient logistics support economic growth and trade. This may seem like a truism, but it is consistently implemented in Vietnam.
Exports Drive Sea Ports
“Over the past nine months, Vietnam’s total export turnover reached $368.13 billion, representing an increase of over $51 billion year-on-year,” the customs service reported. By comparison, according to customs data on Vietnam’s exports in 2024, exports increased by approximately 6.4% compared to the previous year. Vietnam’s top 10 export commodities generated revenues of $274.03 billion.
This rapid growth is evident in both the volume and range of products offered for export. Growing export revenues and container port turnover are largely driven by high-tech “Made in Vietnam” products. According to the report “Export Highlights from 10 Key Product Groups and 10 Leading Markets,” Vietnam’s exports in 2024 were dominated by electrical machinery (USD 121.70 billion), clothing and textiles (USD 40.90 billion), and footwear (USD 25.40 billion).
Exports of high-tech and manufactured goods continue to grow in 2025. Computers, electronics, and components generated nearly USD 82 billion in revenue, with sales growth increasing by 47.15% over the first nine months of 2025. Approximately USD 46 billion worth of telephones and accessories were exported from Vietnamese assembly plants (an increase of 4.7%). Vietnamese factories sold machinery, equipment, and spare parts worth nearly USD 45.5 billion abroad. Ports and logistics terminals loaded 12.9% more of these items.
In addition to the high-tech sector, Vietnam maintains its traditional export industries, emphasizing that they continue to play a key role in the country’s revenues. Over the first three quarters of 2025, textiles and apparel generated revenues of $31.24 billion. Foreign customers paid 8.16% more for these products than during the same period last year. Plastic products generated nearly $5.8 billion in revenue for their manufacturers, a 12.65% increase over the previous nine months.
Footwear factories earned approximately $18.7 billion from exports, a 4.8% increase over the previous nine months. Vehicle and parts manufacturers earned nearly $13.6 billion during the same period, a 13.76% increase over the previous year. Foreign buyers purchased wood and wood products, mainly furniture, worth $13.2 billion (up 6.35%), as well as seafood ($8.71 billion, up 13.26%). Vietnam also exported coffee worth $7.2 billion, with a record 61.8% increase in sales.
USD 70 billion from agro-forestry-fishery products
Vice Minister of Agriculture and Environment Phung Duc Tien said that exports will likely reach a record high of USD 70 billion in 2025. Vietnam has already generated USD 58.14 billion in revenue from agro-forestry-fishery exports in the first 10 months of this year. China is the largest importer of Vietnamese agro-forestry-fishery products. In 2025, it purchased 21.4% of the export value of these products. The next largest recipients are the United States with a 20.4% market share and Japan (7%). In 2024, the total value of agricultural, forestry, and fishery product exports exceeded USD 62 billion. Sales increased by 18% year-on-year last year.
The United States is the main recipient of Vietnamese products, with an estimated value of over USD 111 billion. In 2024, sales to the US reached nearly $114 billion. US importers still account for over 30% of export revenue. The next key markets are Asian markets: China (which purchased goods worth $60.7 billion in 2024), South Korea ($28.2 billion), Japan ($26.8 billion), and Hong Kong ($20.1 billion). Over the past nine months, imports from Hong Kong have increased by approximately 38.5%.
It is worth noting that in 2025, a Vietnamese company received an export order from South Korea for 5,000 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Vietnamese “Government News” reported that “CT UAV, a subsidiary of CT Group, produces heavy-duty transport drones capable of carrying payloads weighing between 60 and 300 kg, with a localization accuracy of up to 85%. These designs are based on patented Vietnamese technology, including integrated circuits.
In 2024, EU imports from Vietnam totaled $59.27 billion, an 18.5% increase compared to the previous year. European importers favored electrical equipment (over $21.8 billion), machinery (approximately $8.5 billion), and footwear (approximately $6.5 billion). These products accounted for approximately half of total imports. This increase was driven by the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). All these markets demonstrate continued interest in importing products from Vietnam, ensuring high turnover for ports. This also necessitates the import of raw materials, which in turn drives turnover at bulk and fuel terminals.