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He suggested that HCM city should take a more proactive total retail sales of consumer goods rose by 4.5 percent. In
role in standardising digital traceability records, establishing the same period China’s online retail sales were up by 9.8
a dedicated centre for HS codes and rules of origin and percent year-on-year.
developing an early-warning system to prevent trade fraud. It was reported that furniture sales in September rose

Thomas Luk, Director of Starwood Furniture of VN Corp, 21.5 percent and sale of builders’ material and interior trim
said many Vietnamese exporters face high US tariffs but there rose just 1.6 percent
are ways to mitigate them. In another press release the National Bureau of Statistics
He called for policies to support the renovation of ageing says in the first nine months of 2025 investment in real estate
factories and minimise account receivable risk. development fell almost 14 percent year on year, of which
Enterprises at the event further proposed streamlining investment in residential buildings was down 12.9 percent.
administrative procedures and developing a large-scale
trade fair and exhibition centre in HCM City to strengthen Decline in log imports
international trade promotion. According to China Customs, from January to September

In his closing remarks, HCM City People’s Committee China’s log imports dropped 13 percent to 23.96 million cubic
Chairman, Nguyen Van Duoc, praised the achievements of metres valued at US$3.753 billion, down 22 percent over the
Vietnam’s wood and furniture industry, noting that enterprises same period of 2024.
are the driving force of economic development. Of the total, China’s softwood log imports amounted
The city government is committed to listening to and acting to 18.02 million cubic metres, down 8 percent. Hardwood
on business feedback. It will turn these ideas into practical log imports came to 5.94 million cubic metres, dropping 25
and feasible policies to create a competitive, transparent and percent over the same period of 2024.

sustainable business environment, he said. New Zealand was the largest supplier of logs and. China’s
He added that the city would review tax refund procedures, imports from New Zealand rose one percent to 13.567 million
address overlapping regulations affecting both domestic and cubic metres between January to September 2025, accounting
foreign enterprises and continue investing in road and rail for 57 percent of the national total.
infrastructure to reduce logistics costs. China’s log imports from Japan grew 12 percent to 1.289
“With its tradition of dynamism, creativity and pioneering million cubic metres, in addition, imports from Canada and
spirit, I believe HCM City’s wood and furniture business Latvia rose 10 percent and 55 percent respectively between
community will continue to lead the way in realising the vision January and September 2025.
of making the city a regional manufacturing and export hub,” In contrast, China’s log imports from the US fell 75 percent.

he affirmed.
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CHINA
Retail sales of consumer goods
In a press release the National Bureau of Statistics reported
total retail sales of consumer goods in September 2025 rose
by three percent year-on-year.

Specifically, retail sales of consumer goods excluding
automobiles rose 3.2 percent. Between January and September,