Vietnam, Uruguay Strengthen Textile Trade Ties
Vietnam and Uruguay have agreed to strengthen economic, trade and investment cooperation, with a focus on improving market access and diversifying trade in garments, textiles, footwear and raw materials.
The agreement was reached at the fourth meeting of the Vietnam-Uruguay Joint Committee in Hanoi, where both sides discussed measures to expand bilateral trade and investment. They also agreed to intensify trade promotion activities, improve market access for businesses and work towards a successful first round of negotiations on the Vietnam-MERCOSUR Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA).
Bilateral trade between Vietnam and Uruguay increased 58.4% year on year to US$ 268.42 million in 2025. Vietnam’s exports to Uruguay rose 64.8% to US$ 179.92 million, while imports from Uruguay increased 46.8% to US$ 88.50 million.
The positive trend continued in the first half of 2026, with two-way trade rising 21.8% year on year to US$ 148.35 million. Vietnam’s exports surged 57.5% to US$ 106.52 million, while imports from Uruguay declined 22.7% to US$ 41.83 million.
The meeting was co-chaired by Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Phan Thi Thang and Uruguayan Deputy Foreign Minister Valeria Csukasi. Discussions covered bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, customs, agriculture, science and technology and other areas.
The two countries highlighted the complementary nature of their trade structures. Vietnam exports industrial, electronic and consumer products, while Uruguay supplies raw materials used in Vietnam’s manufacturing and export industries.
Vietnam’s major exports to Uruguay include garments and textiles, footwear, machinery and equipment, phones and components, toys and sports goods and computers and electronic products.
Beyond trade, the two sides agreed to explore cooperation in agriculture, customs, software, timber processing, renewable energy, innovation, culture, sports and tourism.
The proposed Vietnam-MERCOSUR PTA is expected to provide an additional avenue for expanding market access and strengthening trade links between Vietnam and the South American bloc. The two countries said continued trade promotion and closer business-to-business engagement would be important to further diversify bilateral trade and investment.
