Plastic waste exports in Vietnam
Vietnam: Plastic waste exports was 49,508 tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Plastic waste exports in Vietnam, 2000–2023
Source: United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for plastic waste exports in Vietnam is 49,508 tonnes, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 89.4% on the previous year and down 77.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in Vietnam peaked at 302,158 tonnes in 2017 and was at its lowest, 1,054 tonnes, in 2003.
Vietnam ranks 17th of 167 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Plastic waste exports in Vietnam, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 2,302 tonnes | — |
| 2001 | 10,163 tonnes | +341.5% |
| 2002 | 3,508 tonnes | -65.5% |
| 2003 | 1,054 tonnes | -70.0% |
| 2004 | 2,102 tonnes | +99.5% |
| 2005 | 16,122 tonnes | +667.1% |
| 2006 | 18,269 tonnes | +13.3% |
| 2007 | 19,147 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 2008 | 19,342 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 18,929 tonnes | -2.1% |
| 2010 | 39,760 tonnes | +110.0% |
| 2011 | 102,059 tonnes | +156.7% |
| 2013 | 223,408 tonnes | +118.9% |
| 2014 | 202,021 tonnes | -9.6% |
| 2015 | 119,292 tonnes | -41.0% |
| 2016 | 276,395 tonnes | +131.7% |
| 2017 | 302,158 tonnes | +9.3% |
| 2018 | 196,690 tonnes | -34.9% |
| 2019 | 55,019 tonnes | -72.0% |
| 2020 | 37,176 tonnes | -32.4% |
| 2021 | 26,143 tonnes | -29.7% |
| 2023 | 49,508 tonnes | +89.4% |
Vietnam compared with similar countries
- Vietnam's 49,508 tonnes is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1,066 tonnes, 46.4× the median. (49 countries reporting)
- Vietnam's 49,508 tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 277.15 tonnes, 178.6× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Plastic waste exports in Vietnam changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | +667.1% | 2,102 tonnes | 16,122 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 11,094 tonnes | 1,054 tonnes | 19,342 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 168,534 tonnes | 39,760 tonnes | 302,158 tonnes | 9 |
| 2020s | 37,609 tonnes | 26,143 tonnes | 49,508 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Vietnam
More environment data for Vietnam
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 7.61 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate 0.6558 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), annual 1.16 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per unit of 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) (Mt CO2e) -6.45 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is plastic waste exports in Vietnam?
- Plastic waste exports in Vietnam was 49,508 tonnes in 2023, according to United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest plastic waste exports recorded in Vietnam?
- The highest recorded value was 302,158 tonnes in 2017.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in Vietnam?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,054 tonnes in 2003.
- How does Vietnam rank for plastic waste exports?
- Vietnam ranks 17th out of 167 countries with data for 2023.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in Vietnam?
- Over the last ten years it is down 77.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Vietnam data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Plastic waste exports. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Amount of plastic waste a country exports to other countries, measured in tonnes per year.