Samsung’s Vietnam Smartphone Shipments to US Hit Five Year Low

Samsung ships the majority of its Galaxy phones from its Vietnam manufacturing hub to markets like the US and Europe. However, a fresh report now suggests that exports to the US have declined sharply in recent months. This is because of the uncertainty over trade policies and slowing consumer demand.

Vietnam’s Samsung hub sees decline in US smartphone exports

According to official Vietnamese data (via Reuters), US imports of phones from Vietnam fell to less than $410 million in November 2025. This is the lowest monthly figure in more than five years (since May 2020). On top of that, this also marked the fourth consecutive monthly decline, showing the increasing challenges for Vietnam’s electronics exports.

While smartphones are not subject to US tariffs, trade uncertainties, such as a 20% tariff on other Vietnamese goods, have affected shipments. Earlier this year, the US government exempted phones and other electronics from steep tariffs on imports from Vietnam. As a result, smartphone exports to the US increased significantly in May 2025. However, shipments began to drop sharply from August 2025.

“Samsung was adjusting its production and export volumes in the country in reaction to weakening consumer sentiment,” said a Vietnam-based executive familiar with Samsung’s operations. The company did not provide specific figures on its Vietnam exports and declined to comment on the recent trade data.

Despite the drop in exports in the latter half of the year, Vietnam’s smartphone shipments were solid in the first half of 2025. This helped offset some of the losses, maintaining total exports for the first 11 months of the year roughly flat compared to last year.

Hopefully, the upcoming Galaxy S26 series, expected to launch in January or February 2026, could increase demand in the US market. The flagship lineup may feature several hardware upgrades, design tweaks, and a revamped software experience, attracting buyers around the world.