Unlocking potential and promoting exports of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products

Vietnam has great potential in agricultural, forestry, and fishery products. In 2025, exports from these sectors reached 70 billion USD for the first time, creating strong momentum and encouraging the industry to further develop its strengths and increase export value in the following year.

Workers inspect products at the coffee processing plant of Hai Viet Coffee Co., Ltd. (Trang Dai ward). Photo: L.H

To adapt to changes in the global market, especially tariff pressures and stricter requirements for green products, enterprises in the sector are working to improve quality and shift firmly from raw exports to processed products, leveraging national competitive advantages.

Ambitious targets for the new year

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, in 2025, Vietnam’s export turnover of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products reached 70.09 billion USD, with a trade surplus of 20.72 billion USD, marking a new milestone for the sector’s export value.

The structure of export markets saw notable shifts, with China rising to become the largest export destination, accounting for 22.3 percent of total exports. It was followed by the United States at 20.6 percent and Japan at 7.1 percent. Compared to 2024, export value to China increased by 15.9 percent, to Japan by 20.5 percent, and to the United States by 5.4 percent. In addition to traditional markets, exports to Europe and Africa recorded positive growth, while the Middle East, Asia, and niche markets remain important areas for expansion.

In Dong Nai, out of the total exports of more than 34.6 billion USD last year, several product groups from the agricultural and forestry sectors played a key role, entering the billion-dollar export club. These included cashew nut products at nearly 2.8 billion USD, coffee at close to 1.6 billion USD, rubber at over 1.3 billion USD, and wood and wood products at almost 1.7 billion USD.

In recent years, Dong Nai province has launched a series of trade promotion and support initiatives to increase agricultural exports. Besides focusing on traditional markets, local enterprises and cooperatives have actively explored niche markets with significant potential. Companies have also shifted from exporting raw materials to deeply processed products, emphasizing brand building based on trust and quality.

Building on the positive results of 2025, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has designated 2026 as a crucial year for implementing development goals for 2026–2030. The ministry aims for an agricultural, forestry, and fishery export turnover of 73 to 74 billion USD, maintaining a strong commitment to market opening and promoting efficient, sustainable export growth.

According to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment, Phung Duc Tien, the ministry will strengthen information dissemination, forecasting, and production guidance, promptly directing localities to adjust production structures in line with market signals to avoid overheated, unsustainable development. Priority will be given to developing major traditional markets while leveraging free trade agreements (FTAs) to expand into potential markets, alongside supporting the business community in addressing trade barriers, improving quality standards, increasing deep processing, and building strong brands.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, nationwide, there are currently nearly 8,000 industrial-scale processing facilities linked to exports and around 22,000 small-scale facilities serving the domestic market. The total designed processing capacity exceeds 160 million tonnes of raw materials annually, while actual throughput is estimated at approximately 120 to 130 million tonnes. The share of deeply processed products derived from agricultural, forestry, and fishery sources increased from about 20% in 2020 to over 30% in 2025.

Enterprises shift mindsets to meet global standards

For businesses, especially those rooted in agriculture and forestry, climate change and increasingly stringent food safety regulations are turning “green” standards into a global norm. Consumers in Japan, the United States, and Europe are no longer focused solely on taste; they also demand transparency in product origin and environmentally friendly production. Vietnam’s commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050 means that agricultural exports can only thrive if they align with the trend toward sustainability. As a result, businesses are compelled to invest in research and development geared toward sustainable practices.

According to Truong Van My, Director of the Suoi Cat Cocoa Agricultural and Services Cooperative (Xuan Loc commune), in addition to supplying raw materials to enterprises and partners, the cooperative has conducted research to develop deeply processed products to increase added value and expand into markets such as France, Japan, Singapore, China, and the United States. A wide range of products under the “Thanh Y Cocoa” brand has been introduced, including liquor, wine, cocoa butter, cocoa butter–based lip balm, pure cocoa powder, and chocolate, cashew nuts, and peanuts. Several of these products have been highly rated by foreign partners, who have expressed readiness for future cooperation.

Similarly, sustainable development is a core focus for GC Food Joint Stock Company (GC Food JSC), located in Ho Nai Industrial Park. Sustainable development is seen as a “passport” for global expansion. GC Food’s factories adopt a circular economy model across the entire production process, with 100% of by-products reused, transforming waste into valuable secondary products and significantly reducing solid waste emissions. Additionally, the company is working to improve packaging to be more environmentally friendly, encouraging the use of recyclable materials and reducing plastic waste.

According to Nguyen Van Thu, Chairman of the Board of Directors of GC Food JSC, for Vietnamese agricultural products to reach global markets, they must not only meet high-quality standards but also embody a philosophy of green, sustainable, and humane development. He emphasised that corporate growth must go hand in hand with environmental responsibility to meet the criteria highly valued by international partners.

By Vuong The – Translated by Hong Van, Minho