The processing and manufacturing sector showed fairly solid recovery signals throughout the second quarter of 2026. According to the latest survey from the General Statistics Office, the majority of companies reported stable and improving business conditions compared to the previous period, with optimism continuing into the third quarter of 2026.
Data indicates that 79.7% of companies managed to maintain or improve their business performance in the second quarter. This trend is projected to strengthen in the following quarter, with 83.4% of business owners optimistic that market conditions will remain conducive. The electronics industry served as the main driver, buoyed by a significant surge in export orders and production volume.
Nevertheless, behind this positive report card, several sub-sectors such as the furniture and wood processing industries are still struggling with declining market demand. On a macro level, business players also face classic challenges, including fierce competition in the domestic market, weak consumer purchasing power, and loan interest rate pressure that increasingly burdens operational costs.
In response to these obstacles, the business community is submitting appeals to the government. The top priority requested by nearly half of the companies is the stability of raw material and energy prices to keep production costs down. Additionally, credit interest rate easing and the simplification of bureaucratic administrative processes are crucial points expected to accelerate national economic growth during the remainder of 2026.
