Vietnam’s agricultural exports reached $9.38 billion in early 2025, the highest in five years, with forestry and fishery leading the growth. This surge created a $2.05 billion trade surplus, boosting Vietnam’s global trade presence.
Vietnam’s agricultural, forestry, and fishery sectors have demonstrated remarkable resilience and growth, achieving a five-year high in export turnover for the first two months of 2025. According to data released by the newly formed Ministry of Agriculture and Environment on Tuesday, this surge underscores Vietnam’s strengthening position as a key player in the global agricultural market.
Record-breaking export figures
The export turnover reached an impressive US$9.38 billion, marking an 8.3% year-on-year increase. February alone witnessed a dramatic 32.7% rise, with exports totaling $4.4 billion. Notably, forestry and fishery sectors emerged as the primary drivers of this growth, exceeding the government’s ambitious 12% target and outperforming the national export growth average of 8.4%.
Specifically, agricultural exports contributed nearly $4.9 billion, a 4.5% increase, while livestock exports rose by 4% to over $72 million. Forestry exports soared by 11.9% to nearly $2.7 billion, and fishery exports jumped by a substantial 18.6% to over $1.4 billion. This robust performance generated an agricultural trade surplus of $2.05 billion, significantly bolstering the nation’s overall trade surplus of $1.47 billion.
Government initiatives and sector consolidation
Minister of Agriculture and Environment Đỗ Đức Duy emphasized the pivotal role of these sectors in driving Vietnam’s export growth, urging stakeholders to capitalize on this momentum while ensuring a smooth transition following the merger of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. This merger, formalized under Government Decree No 35/2025/NĐ-CP on March 1, 2025, aims to streamline operations and enhance policy coherence.
“This is a solid foundation for the sector to achieve its targets for 2025 and beyond,” stated Minister Duy during the regular monthly meeting. He stressed the importance of maintaining workflow and avoiding disruptions to production and exports during the restructuring process.
Despite the ongoing merger, the ministry has achieved 61.5% of its assigned tasks, promptly addressing local proposals and issuing necessary guidance. Public investment disbursement has reached VNĐ977.9 billion, or 4.7% of the planned amount, with efforts underway to accelerate disbursement for key projects by the year’s end.
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Domestic production and sustainability
Minister Duy also highlighted the stable domestic production, with pig herds growing by 3.2% and poultry stocks increasing by 3.4%. Aquaculture production reached 692,200 tonnes, a 4.9% rise, while wild-caught seafood output saw a slight decline of 0.5%. Planted forest areas expanded to 20,100ha, a 6.5% increase, and harvested timber output grew by 18.9% to exceed 2.6 million cubic meters. Revenue from forest environmental services surpassed VNĐ682 billion, an 11% increase.
Addressing climate challenges, Minister Duy called for enhanced disaster forecasting and extreme weather warnings to protect production and minimize losses for farmers. He also emphasized the importance of preparing for the EU’s fifth IUU inspection to lift the ‘yellow card’ and expand seafood exports.
Looking ahead, the ministry plans to develop 41 projects and issue 58 circulars in 2025, prioritizing five key decrees on minerals, the environment, and agriculture. Minister Duy also urged market expansion, swift handling of food safety issues, and proactive responses to import market alerts to safeguard Vietnam’s agricultural reputation.
Positive impact for international buyers
The surge in Vietnam’s agricultural exports presents several significant benefits for international buyers:
- Increased supply and diversification: The substantial growth in forestry and fishery exports, in particular, means a wider array of high-quality products available for international markets. This diversification enhances supply chain resilience and reduces reliance on single-source suppliers.
- Enhanced quality and safety standards: The Vietnamese government’s focus on addressing food safety issues and preparing for EU inspections indicates a commitment to upholding stringent international standards. This translates to safer and more reliable products for buyers.
- Stable and sustainable supply chains: The robust domestic production figures, including growth in livestock and aquaculture, signal a stable and sustainable supply chain. This stability is crucial for international buyers seeking long-term partnerships.
- Competitive pricing: The increased production and export volumes can lead to more competitive pricing, offering cost advantages to international buyers.
- Expanding market access: The government’s drive to expand market access and address import market alerts underscores its commitment to facilitating international trade, creating new opportunities for buyers.
- Modernized regulations: The creation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment means streamlined regulations and a more coherent approach to managing the agricultural sector, which will improve the efficiency and reliability of trade.
- Commitment to sustainability: The increase in revenue from forest enviromental services shows Vietnams growing commitment to sustainable practices, which is something many international buyers are looking for.
This strong performance reinforces Vietnam’s position as a reliable and dynamic partner in the global agricultural trade, offering international buyers a wealth of opportunities for sourcing high-quality products.
