Hanoi, June 17 -- Vietnam's trade with the European Union (EU) remained resilient in the first five months of 2026, with exports posting robust double-digit growth and the country's trade surplus with the bloc climbing 11.3% year-on-year to 18.1 billion USD, despite slowing economic activity in Europe.

Surplus tops 18 billion USD

Trade between Vietnam and the EU maintained momentum during the January-May period, supported by the EU - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and sustained demand for key Vietnamese exports, even as the EU grappled with inflationary pressures and sluggish consumer spending.

Latest data from the Customs Department showed bilateral trade reaching 36 billion USD during the five-month period. Exports to the EU ro...