U.S. imports of telephones and phone parts from Vietnam dropped to their lowest level in more than five years in November, according to new government data. The decline reflects growing trade uncertainty and weaker global demand, which have hit major exporters like Samsung Electronics.
While smartphones are exempt from U.S. tariffs, shifting trade rules still created hesitation among buyers and disrupted shipment patterns this year. Exports briefly rebounded in May after the U.S. confirmed that phones would remain exempt from steep duties, but shipments began sliding again in August when a 20% tariff on Vietnamese goods revived concerns across the industry.
By November, Vietnam’s phone exports to the U.S. had fallen to under $410 million. It was the lowest monthly figure since mid-2020 and the fourth straight month of declines. Domestic production has also trended downward since August, mirroring the drop in overseas orders.
Even so, strong exports early in the year helped offset the recent slowdown, keeping Vietnam’s total shipments nearly unchanged in the first 11 months compared with last year. The trend is especially tied to Samsung, which dominates Vietnam’s smartphone output, though the company does not publicly share its export numbers.
A Vietnam-based executive familiar with Samsung’s operations said the firm has been adjusting production in response to softer consumer demand. As phone shipments fell, Vietnam’s overall exports also dipped, hitting their lowest point since April at nearly $4 billion.
