Preliminary data cited by Vietnam Economic Times from Vietnam Customs shows that Vietnam's total merchandise trade reached approximately US$601.51 billion by mid-July 2026, up 27.77% year on year. Faster trade growth creates commercial opportunities, but it also increases pressure on transport capacity, sailing schedules, documentation and working capital.
1. Compare total landed cost, not only freight
The lowest freight rate is not always the lowest total cost. When requesting quotes, ask forwarders to clarify the base rate, origin and destination surcharges, documentation fees, free time for containers, and the conditions attached to the quote. For time-critical cargo, a stable schedule and a backup plan usually matter more than a small difference in freight rate.
2. Reserve capacity early for high-demand routes
The second half of the year typically concentrates peak-season orders. Share forecasts with your forwarder early, especially for cargo to the US, Europe and Asian routes where sailing schedules change quickly. Prepare backup options for carriers, load ports, or a combined sea/air plan for urgent portions of a shipment.
3. Review documents before the cargo cut-off
Mismatches between the contract, invoice, packing list, bill of lading and customs declaration can cost more time than the shipping journey itself. For cargo subject to specialized inspection, lithium batteries, food or agricultural products, confirm HS codes and required permits or certificates before booking.
4. Manage cash flow and currency exposure
Fast-growing import volumes can increase working-capital and international-payment needs. Build duties, VAT, local charges, storage fees and exchange-rate movement into the landed-cost budget, rather than relying only on the purchase price and international freight rate.
5. Track shipments using action milestones
A good tracking report does more than show where the vessel is. It should flag cut-off dates, ETA changes, document deadlines, free-time expiry, and who is responsible for handling the next step.
How can SeaAir Global help?
SeaAir Global supports ocean freight, air freight, inland transport, customs brokerage and practical routing advice for Vietnam's importers and exporters. Share your route, cargo type, quantity, expected timing and delivery terms to receive a suitable plan.
Data source: Vietnam Economic Times/VnEconomy, citing preliminary Vietnam Customs data.
