Vietnam is stepping up efforts to expand exports to the global Halal market as businesses seek to diversify destinations amid rising trade uncertainties and tighter regulations in traditional markets.
Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City have been actively promoting trade links with Halal markets, which serve an estimated 2.2 billion Muslim consumers worldwide, with a strong focus on the Middle East.
The push comes as highly open economies such as Vietnam face increasing pressure from tariff disputes and growing protectionism, while exports to established markets, including the United States, European Union, and Japan, are becoming more challenging due to stricter standards.
The Middle East has emerged as a high-growth import region, with total annual merchandise imports estimated at more than $1.2 trillion and average GDP growth rates of 5% to 6%, well above those of many developed economies.
Trade figures for the first 11 months of 2025 show Vietnam’s exports to the United Arab Emirates reached $5.4 billion, while shipments to Saudi Arabia totaled $1.9 billion. Key export items included mobile phones and components, which accounted for nearly 35% of export value, alongside electronics, footwear, textiles and garments, cashew nuts, seafood, vehicles, and agricultural products.
Despite these gains, officials and industry experts say export potential between Ho Chi Minh City and Middle Eastern markets remains underdeveloped. Major regional retailers and distributors, including Lulu Hypermarket in the UAE and Al Othaim Markets in Saudi Arabia, have expressed strong interest in sourcing high-quality Vietnamese products.
Such interest could help local firms access large distribution networks, secure long-term contracts, and expand into markets with strong purchasing power.
According to Tran Phu Lu, director of the HCM City Investment and Trade Promotion Center, the city has pursued international economic integration while implementing measures to support enterprises and investors. These initiatives aim to ease operational challenges, stimulate production, and help businesses integrate more deeply into global supply chains.
In 2025, ITPC organized more than 160 trade and investment promotion activities, including domestic and overseas fairs and exhibitions. For high-potential Halal markets, particularly in the Middle East, targeted programs have been rolled out to support enterprises through supply-demand matching and international supply chain connectivity.
The Halal market represents about 25% of the world’s population and is forecast to reach an economic value of $10 trillion before 2028. The Halal food segment alone is expected to expand from more than $2.71 trillion in 2024 to over $5.91 trillion by 2033, growing at an average annual rate of around 9%.
The Middle East, with a population of about 500 million and a combined GDP of $3.6 trillion, depends heavily on food imports, which reached $132 billion in 2023. Countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council import roughly 85% of their food needs.
Nguyen Phuong Tra, director-general of the Middle East–Africa Department at Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Ho Chi Minh City should strengthen cooperation with Middle Eastern partners and consider preferential policies on taxation and interest rates.
She also encouraged businesses to take part in major trade events such as the Saudi Food Expo, Halal Trade Expo Dubai, and MIHAS in Malaysia to connect directly with international distribution networks.
Officials say the city’s drive to expand Halal exports is not only about market diversification but also about unlocking a new growth engine, positioning access to 2.2 billion Muslim consumers as a sustainable pillar for Vietnam’s future trade expansion.
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