Vietnam’s exporters are facing rising logistics costs, making supply chain efficiency increasingly important as the country’s trade continues to expand.
Logistics costs currently account for around 16–20% of Vietnam’s GDP, significantly higher than levels seen in the EU, the US, Thailand and China. Rising shipping rates, empty-container handling fees and losses during the movement of raw materials are adding further pressure on exporters.
Refrigerated container rates also surged sharply in May and June, reaching as high as US$7,800, before easing to above US$5,000. For food and seafood exporters, these higher costs are putting additional pressure on production margins and international competitiveness.
With Vietnam’s total import-export turnover projected to approach US$1 trillion in 2026, exporters are increasingly looking for more efficient ways to manage logistics rather than building and operating infrastructure independently.
Partnerships with professional logistics providers are becoming more attractive, while digital technologies are helping businesses monitor temperatures, improve traceability, track shipments and optimize inventory.
Cold-chain infrastructure is another key priority. Better integration between storage facilities, refrigerated containers, ports, roads, waterways, production areas and logistics providers could help reduce bottlenecks and improve the reliability of export flows.
The shift toward greener logistics is also gaining importance as international markets introduce stricter environmental requirements. Renewable-powered cold storage, smart monitoring systems and more efficient transport solutions could help Vietnamese exporters improve both sustainability and market access.
Vietnam’s logistics development strategy for 2025–2035, with a vision toward 2050, aims to reduce logistics costs to 12–15% of GDP, supporting a more competitive and resilient export sector.
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