Vietnam boosts grain imports to support livestock sector

Vietnam is experiencing a surge in demand for imported grain due to declining domestic maize and rice production, as agricultural land is repurposed for more profitable crops like shrimp, fruits, and lotus. The growth in livestock and aquaculture, driven by diversifying consumer diets and expanding aquaculture exports, further fuels the need for feed grain. According to Australian agro-analyst Peter McMickin from Grain Brokers Australia, grain imports are projected to rise by 4.4% to 28.7 million tons in 2025 and by an additional 2.8% to 29.5 million tons in 2026.

Swine and poultry farming in Vietnam are recovering strongly, supported by improved disease control, favorable prices, and stable domestic demand. The Vietnam Bureau of the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) reports a 3.8% increase in swine numbers in 2025, driven by a shift to semi-industrial production models and partnerships between small farms and large enterprises. Aquaculture production also grew by 4.9% in the first half of 2025, reaching 2.6 million tons, with pangasius production hitting 872,000 tons (+4.5%) and exports exceeding $1 billion, up 10% from last year.

Maize is the primary feed component, accounting for 38.5% of total feed volume, with the share of imported maize rising from 83.4% in 2024 to 85.5% in 2026. Domestic maize production is declining, from 4.1 million tons in the 2024/25 marketing year to 4.0 million tons in 2025/26, with planting areas shrinking from 810,000 hectares to 800,000 hectares. Maize imports are forecast to reach 13 million tons in 2025/26, a 42.9% increase over five years, with Argentina (52%) and Brazil (37%) as the main suppliers.

Soybean meal, the second-largest feed component at 25%, is mostly imported from the US and South America. Meanwhile, rice bran and broken rice are losing importance as feed, dropping from 15.3% in 2024 to 13.3% in 2026, as rice production declines. In the Mekong Delta, farmers are shifting to shrimp, fruit, and lotus farming, reducing rice output to 26 million tons from 6.8 million hectares in 2025/26, down 1.2 million tons from the previous year.

Wheat, unsuitable for domestic cultivation due to Vietnam’s climate, is entirely imported, with volumes rising to 5.6 million tons in 2025/26. Of this, 2.6 million tons will support livestock feed, and 2.7 million tons will meet food, seed, and industrial needs, including instant noodles and baked goods. Leading wheat suppliers include Australia (24%), Ukraine (20%), and Brazil (18%), with the US holding an 11% share. The rising grain imports, particularly maize and wheat, underscore Vietnam’s strategic reliance on global markets to sustain its livestock and aquaculture sectors.

Tags: grain, imports