What Does Vietnam Import from India in 2025? - Key Products & Trade Data Insights

Trade between Vietnam and India has quietly evolved into one of Asia’s more balanced and mutually beneficial partnerships. Both economies are rapidly industrializing, export-oriented, and hungry for growth. But while much attention is often given to what Vietnam sells to India, phones, electronics, and machinery, the flip side of the trade flow tells an equally compelling story. According to the Vietnam import data and Vietnam customs data, the total value of Vietnam imports from India reached $5.81 billion in 2024, a 1% decline from the previous year. 

According to preliminary data from Vietnam's General Department of Customs, Vietnam's imports from India decreased by 3.34% month over month to US$497.57 million in September 2025. India ranks as the 8th largest trade partner of Vietnam, as per the global trade data. In 2025, Vietnam’s imports from India reveal the structural interdependence between two dynamic Asian economies: India, a manufacturing and resource powerhouse, and Vietnam, a fast-growing industrial hub deeply integrated with global supply chains. This report dives deep into what exactly Vietnam imports from India, how much, and why, backed by trade data and sector analysis.

India-Vietnam Trade Overview

By 2024–2025, trade between India and Vietnam had reached an impressive level of maturity. Total bilateral trade was estimated at around US$15 billion, with Vietnam importing approximately US$5.8 billion worth of goods from India and exporting around US$9 billion to India, as per the latest Asia trade data. 

India ranks among Vietnam’s top 10 trading partners, though it still represents only a small fraction, roughly 1.5% of Vietnam’s total imports. Despite that modest share, India’s position as a supplier of key intermediate goods, raw materials, and agro-products is solid and strategically valuable.

Vietnam’s imports from India are largely composed of:

• Engineering goods, machinery, and electrical equipment

• Iron and steel

• Agricultural commodities like rice, cereals, cotton, and oilseeds

• Meat and marine products

• Chemicals and pharmaceuticals

Let’s unpack each in detail.

Top 10 Vietnam Imports from India: What Does Vietnam Import From India?

Vietnam's top 10 imports from India encompass a diverse range of goods that play a crucial role in the bilateral trade relationship between the two countries. Vietnam is one such country that imports a variety of goods from India. The key Vietnam imports from India include refined petroleum, telephone sets, computers, rice, and parts and accessories for motor vehicles, among others. With both nations aiming to boost trade ties further, these imports underline the significance of the economic partnership between India and Vietnam. The major products that Vietnam imports from India, as per Vietnam shipment data and India-Vietnam trade data for 2024-25, include: 

1. Meat and Edible Meat Offal (HS code 02): $644.87 million

One of the top imports from India to Vietnam is meat and edible meat offal. This includes products such as frozen beef, poultry, and pork. The demand for meat in Vietnam has been on the rise, leading to a significant import of these products from India, as per the customs data on Vietnam meat imports from India by HS code.

2. Nuclear Reactors and Machinery (HS code 84): $364.38 million

Vietnam also imports nuclear reactors and machinery from India. These products are essential for the country's infrastructure development and industrial growth. India is known for its expertise in producing high-quality machinery, making it a preferred choice for Vietnam.

3. Cotton (HS code 52): $351.62 million

Cotton is another major import from India to Vietnam. The textile industry in Vietnam heavily relies on cotton as a raw material for the production of textiles and garments, as per the data on Vietnam cotton imports from India. India's cotton products are known for their quality, making them popular among Vietnamese manufacturers.

4. Pharmaceutical Products (HS code 30): $337.94 million

The healthcare sector in Vietnam imports a substantial amount of pharmaceutical products from India. These products range from medicines to medical equipment and are crucial for the healthcare infrastructure in Vietnam. India's pharmaceutical industry is well-established and respected globally, making it a reliable source for Vietnam.

5. Electrical Machinery and Equipment (HS code 85): $330.38 million

India is also a significant supplier of electrical machinery and equipment to Vietnam. These products are used in various industries, including manufacturing, construction, and healthcare. India's expertise in producing high-quality electrical machinery has made it a preferred supplier for Vietnam.

6. Aluminum and Articles Thereof (HS code 76): $317 million

Vietnam imports a significant amount of aluminum and articles thereof from India. Aluminum is a versatile metal used in various industries, including construction, automotive, and electronics. India's aluminum products are known for their quality and durability, making them a popular choice for Vietnam.

7. Vehicles (HS code 87): $289.39 million

India exports vehicles to Vietnam, including two-wheelers, cars, and commercial vehicles. The automotive industry in India is well developed and produces a wide range of vehicles to meet diverse market demands. Vietnam imports vehicles from India to meet its population's transportation needs.

8. Cereals (HS code 10): $286 million

India is a major exporter of cereals to Vietnam. Cereals such as rice, wheat, and maize are staple foods in Vietnam and are in high demand. India's agricultural industry is known for its productivity and quality, making it a reliable source of cereals for Vietnam.

9. Fish and Seafood (HS code 03): $284.49 million

Vietnam imports fish and seafood products from India to meet the demand for these products in the country. Fish and seafood are popular food choices in Vietnam and are consumed regularly. India's fish and seafood products are known for their freshness and taste, making them a preferred choice for Vietnamese consumers.

10. Iron and Steel (HS code 72): $241.69 million

India exports iron and steel products to Vietnam, which are essential for the construction and manufacturing industries in the country. Iron and steel are used in the production of buildings, infrastructure, machinery, and vehicles. India's iron and steel products are known for their strength and durability, making them a valuable import for Vietnam.

Vietnam Imports from India in the Last 10 Years: Historical Vietnam-India Trade Data

Major Product Categories: Vietnam Imports from India

1. Engineering Goods, Machinery, and Equipment

Engineering goods make up one of the largest portions of India’s exports to Vietnam, estimated at around US$1.3 billion in 2024.

This segment covers:

• Industrial machinery and mechanical appliances

• Boilers, turbines, and power equipment

• Machine tools and industrial spares

• Pumps, valves, compressors, and construction equipment

• Automotive components and transport machinery

Vietnam’s manufacturing and construction boom, spanning electronics, garments, cement, and infrastructure, drives a consistent demand for such goods. Indian engineering products compete favorably in cost against Japanese or Korean imports while maintaining strong reliability.

2. Iron, Steel, and Other Metals

Iron and steel products form another crucial component of Vietnam’s imports from India. As Vietnam continues large-scale public infrastructure development, its appetite for metal inputs has grown rapidly.

Key imports include:

• Hot-rolled and cold-rolled steel products

• Stainless and alloy steel

• Semi-finished and long products (billets, bars, rods)

• Pig iron and ferroalloys

India’s competitive steel industry, one of the world’s largest, enables it to supply high-grade metal inputs to Vietnamese manufacturers and builders. Annual Indian steel exports to Vietnam are estimated at several hundred million U.S. dollars.

3. Agricultural and Agro-based Products

Agricultural trade forms the historical backbone of India–Vietnam commerce. Vietnam’s agribusiness sector and food-processing industries regularly import Indian commodities such as:

• Rice (particularly brown/husked varieties): In late 2024 and early 2025, Vietnam imported roughly 200,000 metric tons of husked brown rice from India. This was part of a re-export strategy: Vietnam milled the rice into white rice and sold it abroad.

• Cereals and pulses: India supplies broken rice, wheat, maize, and pulses to meet specific market segments in Vietnam’s food industry.

• Oilseeds and animal feed ingredients: Groundnuts, soymeal, castor meal, and other agricultural feedstock flow from India to Vietnam’s livestock and aquaculture sectors.

• Bovine and meat products: India’s meat exports to Vietnam are valued at over US$700 million, dominated by frozen buffalo meat used in Vietnam’s food processing sector.

• Marine products: Vietnam also sources select fishery inputs and seafood from Indian suppliers for reprocessing and re-export.

These agricultural flows demonstrate how trade adapts to seasonal price fluctuations and global food supply trends.

4. Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals, and Intermediates

Vietnam’s pharmaceutical and manufacturing industries rely heavily on imported chemicals and active ingredients. India, one of the world’s largest chemical and pharmaceutical producers, has become a consistent supplier to Vietnam. 

Imports include:

• Basic industrial chemicals and reagents

• Dyes, pigments, and intermediates used in textiles and plastics

• Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs)

• Finished and semi-finished medicinal products

The combined chemical and pharmaceutical exports from India to Vietnam are estimated at US$400–500 million annually. This trade segment benefits from India’s competitive pricing and proven regulatory quality in chemical manufacturing.

5. Textiles and Cotton

Textile trade between India and Vietnam is driven by complementarity: India exports cotton and yarn, while Vietnam exports garments and apparel.

Vietnam imports cotton fiber and yarn from India for its garment factories that produce for brands in the U.S. and Europe. Indian cotton exports to Vietnam were valued at around US$320-360 million in 2024–25. In addition to cotton, synthetic fibers, fabric dyes, and textile auxiliaries form a small but growing share of imports from India.

Vietnam-India Trade Data Summary (2024-2025)

Structural Trends and Drivers

1. Complementary Economic Structures

India and Vietnam have naturally complementary economic profiles:

• India is rich in natural resources, agricultural output, and industrial capacity.

• Vietnam is a leading global manufacturing and export hub seeking raw materials and inputs.

This synergy drives continuous trade in intermediate goods rather than consumer products.

2. Supply Chain Diversification

Vietnam’s strategy of reducing dependence on Chinese inputs after COVID-19 has opened opportunities for Indian exporters in sectors like steel, machinery, and chemicals.

3. Cost Competitiveness

Indian goods often undercut global alternatives in price, making them attractive to Vietnamese buyers, particularly in heavy industries and agricultural processing.

4. Policy and Institutional Cooperation

The India-Vietnam Joint Sub-Commission on Trade has been working to reduce non-tariff barriers and improve trade. Both countries’ trade ministries are exploring direct shipping routes to shorten delivery times between Indian and Vietnamese ports.

Case Study: India’s Brown Rice Exports to Vietnam

One of the most striking developments in 2024–2025 has been Vietnam’s import of husked brown rice from India. When India imposed export restrictions on non-basmati white rice in 2023, Vietnamese processors saw an opportunity: import cheaper Indian brown rice, mill it into white rice, and re-export it.

Between December 2023 and February 2024, Vietnam imported nearly 200,000 metric tons of Indian rice. This trend underscores the flexible and opportunistic nature of agri-trade between the two nations.

Bottlenecks and Challenges

Despite the positive trends, several challenges constrain trade growth:

1. Limited trade Connectivity: Shipping between India and Vietnam still depends largely on transshipment through Singapore or Malaysia, which increases costs and time.

2. Tariff and Non-Tariff Barriers: Differences in standards, product certification, and regulatory documentation create friction in cross-border trade.

3. Awareness and Market Access: Many small and medium Indian exporters lack marketing and distribution networks in Vietnam, limiting reach.

4. Competition from East Asian Suppliers: Vietnamese industries are accustomed to sourcing inputs from China, Japan, and South Korea, which enjoy established supply relationships and proximity advantages.

The Outlook for 2025–2026

The India-Vietnam trade story is entering a more strategic phase. The focus is shifting from traditional commodities toward industrial collaboration and supply-chain integration.

Key emerging sectors to watch:

• Renewable energy equipment — Vietnam’s growing solar and wind power industries could increasingly import Indian turbines, inverters, and electrical components.

• Automotive and electric mobility — India’s growing EV ecosystem may feed parts and technology into Vietnam’s emerging EV market.

• Pharmaceutical manufacturing — With Vietnam seeking to localize medicine production, imports of APIs and machinery from India are expected to rise.

• Steel and alloyed metals — As Vietnam invests in infrastructure and heavy manufacturing, Indian semi-finished metals could play a larger role.

• IT and electronics components — Indian hardware and component manufacturers may find an expanding market among Vietnam’s tech assembly firms.

If both sides maintain momentum and streamline trade, trade from India to Vietnam could exceed US$6 billion by the end of 2025 and possibly reach US$7 billion by 2026.

Strategic Significance for Both Economies

For Vietnam:

• Strengthens supply chain resilience by diversifying away from dominant East Asian suppliers.

• Gains access to competitively priced industrial and agricultural inputs.

• Builds a base for cooperation in technology, pharmaceuticals, and green industries.

For India:

• Expands its export footprint in the ASEAN region.

• Gains access to Vietnam’s advanced manufacturing ecosystem and export gateways to East Asia.

• Builds leverage for future regional trade agreements and economic diplomacy.

Key Takeaways

• Vietnam imports roughly US$5.5 billion worth of goods from India in 2025.

• Top import categories: engineering goods, iron and steel, meat, cotton, chemicals, and agricultural commodities.

• India’s exports to Vietnam are diversified but heavily concentrated in intermediate goods and raw materials.

• Trade drivers: complementary economies, cost competitiveness, and geopolitical diversification.

• Future focus: deeper industrial collaboration, direct shipping routes, and participation in renewable and EV supply chains.

Conclusion and Final Words

Vietnam’s imports from India in 2025 paint a picture of growing interdependence between two ambitious Asian economies. India provides what Vietnam needs most: cost-effective inputs for manufacturing, food processing, and industrial expansion, boosting the Vietnam-India Trade Relations.

From rice and cotton to machinery and chemicals, the trade basket reflects both history and modern economic synergy. Though India’s share of Vietnam’s total imports is small, its importance lies in what it supplies, materials and technologies that power Vietnam’s factories and infrastructure. If trade and policy cooperation improve, and if both nations continue to align their industrial strategies, India could become one of Vietnam’s top five suppliers by the end of the decade. The next few years will determine whether this complementary trade relationship transforms into a genuine strategic partnership, driving Asia’s next wave of industrial growth.

We hope that you liked our insightful and data-driven blog on Vietnam-India trade relations & Top Vietnam imports from India in 2025. For more information on Vietnam export-import data, or to search live import-export data by country, product, or HS code, visit TradeImeX. Contact us at info@tradeimex.in to get customized trade reports and market insights along with verified trade databases.