Executive Summary

The United States is the second-largest supplier of agricultural products to Vietnam, at $4.7 billion in 2025. Vietnam's increasing population and rapidly growing gross domestic product (GDP) have benefitted U.S. agricultural exports. The greatest potential for U.S. agricultural exports in the Vietnamese market includes U.S. fresh fruits, dairy products, poultry and poultry products, feed and feed ingredients, cotton, ethanol, and agricultural-related products, including seafood and forestry products.

Macroeconomic Prospective

Vietnam's macroeconomic profile combines rapid GDP growth, increasing consumer demand for goods and services, and expanding industrial manufacturing. Vietnam's GDP was $514.4 billion in 2025 with real GDP growth of 8.0 percent¹, making Vietnam the fourth-largest economy in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Expanding incomes and industrial processing growth support demand for imported cotton, animal feed, forestry products, fruit, seafood, and specialty foods.

Vietnam's food sector is growing. Vietnam's food processing industry reached $88 billion in 2025, up 11 percent, while food retail sales stayed near $72 billion and food service sales rose 15 percent to $32.2 billion, driven mainly by the strong performance of the hospitality industry. The number of international travelers rose by 25 percent year-over-year². Growing Vietnamese demand for high-quality foods, along with the rapid expansion of the food processing sector, is increasing import needs. U.S. food products have a strong reputation in the market for high quality and good value.

In addition to agricultural products for food, the growing manufacturing sector provides opportunities for other agricultural and forestry products. The vibrant growth in the textile industry has propelled Vietnam to become a top buyer of cotton. Meanwhile, the wood manufacturing industry has continued to expand, spurring forest product imports.

Demographics

Vietnam's demographics provide opportunities for U.S. agricultural product exports. Vietnam has the third-largest population in Southeast Asia at 101 million in 2025, behind Indonesia and the Philippines. The retail structure is still dominated by traditional outlets, with small grocers and wet markets accounting for more than 83 percent of food retail revenue in 2024, but the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) Hanoi reported that supermarkets grew 13 percent, and food e-commerce grew 29 percent in 2025. That shift is important for U.S. agricultural products because modern retail outlets are better suited for branded, traceable, and higher-value products. As the population expands and the middle class continues to grow, consumers in Vietnam are becoming increasingly selective regarding the source and ingredients of their food. U.S. agricultural exporters, who provide safe and high-quality agricultural products, are well-positioned to enhance their sales in the Vietnamese market. Additionally, Vietnam has emerging sectors that can accommodate high-value U.S. products, including retail, tourism, and food processing, while consumers, especially the younger population, are placing greater emphasis on health and wellness.

Vietnam's Agricultural Trade Overview

The United States is the second-largest supplier of agricultural products to Vietnam with a market share of 13.4 percent, following China (13.5 percent).

Potential U.S. Agricultural Products to Vietnam

Fresh Fruits

Vietnam holds potential for increased U.S. exports of fresh fruits, especially given recent U.S.-Vietnamese reciprocal trade negotiations and improved market access for U.S. suppliers. Fresh fruit exports from the United States were $91.1 million in 2025. U.S. fresh fruits exports to Vietnam include apples ($47.1 million), cherries ($19.6 million), grapes ($17.6 million), and other fresh fruits ($1.7 million).

Recent trade negotiations have led to expanded opportunities for U.S. exporters. On March 16, 2026, Vietnam granted market access for U.S. mandarins from California and Florida. Experts estimate the potential value of U.S. mandarin exports to Vietnam at $5 million. On June 6, 2025, the Plant Production and Protection Department (PPPD) of Vietnam granted approval for the export of fresh peaches and nectarines from California. This decision follows negotiations between USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and PPPD, confirming that the systems approach utilized by American stone fruit producers is both safe and effective. Experts estimate the annual market value for California peaches and nectarines to be $2.5 million³. In the last quarter of 2025, the United States was the second-largest supplier of fresh fruits to Vietnam with 8.3 percent market share, following China.

Dairy Products

U.S. dairy exports to Vietnam grew in 2025 to $149.2 million, higher than 2024 by 18 percent. The United States was the third-largest supplier to Vietnam in 2025, following New Zealand ($424 million) and the European Union (EU) ($358 million). U.S. dairy product exports to Vietnam include nonfat dry milk, whey, fresh cheese, milk, yoghurt, and butter. In October 2025, the U.S. Dairy Export Council completed a trade framework with Vietnam. The agreement will make it easier for U.S. suppliers to deliver the high-quality dairy ingredients and products for Vietnam's growing consumer demand.

Poultry and Poultry Products

U.S. poultry and poultry product exports to Vietnam were $113 million in 2025. The United States was the largest supplier to Vietnam, followed by the Republic of Korea (ROK or South Korea) ($75 million) and the EU ($65 million) in 2025. U.S. poultry and poultry product exports to Vietnam are primarily frozen chicken legs and leg quarters. Imports account for about 11 percent of Vietnam's chicken meat consumption. A recent reduction in Vietnam's import tariffs under Decree No. 73/2025/ND-CP on certain poultry products (frozen chicken thighs reduced from 20 percent to 15 percent) may further enhance U.S. poultry exports to Vietnam.

Feed and Feed Ingredients

Vietnam's livestock and aquaculture production is dependent on imported feed inputs. These sectors experienced strong growth in 2024, leading to higher demand for animal and aquaculture feed⁴. Feed and feed ingredients include corn, soybeans, soybean meal, feed wheat, and distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS).

U.S. soybean exports to Vietnam reached $581 million in 2025, a 20-percent increase from 2024. Vietnam's soybean crushers have launched new production lines to expand crushing capacity. As a result, experts predict Vietnam's soybean imports to increase, supporting higher domestic soybean meal production, while predicting imports of soybean meal to remain flat in marketing years (September 1-August 31) 2025/26 and 2026/27, according to FAS Hanoi⁵.

According to Trade Data Monitor, Vietnam imported $1.2 billion of soybeans in 2025. The United States was the largest supplier, accounting for 49.3 percent of total imports, followed by Brazil with 42.2 percent market share, and Canada with 7.7 percent.

U.S. corn exports to Vietnam significantly increased from $22.7 million in 2024 to $394 million in 2025. Vietnam emerged as a top 10 destination for U.S. corn, jumping from just 5,000 tons in 2023/24 to 1.1 million tons in 2024/25. U.S. exports of DDGS in 2025 were $272 million, a 4- percent increase from 2024. Vietnamese feed companies and U.S. private companies signed two memoranda of understanding in June 2025, committing to purchase 900,000 metric tons of U.S. corn and 250,000 metric tons of U.S. DDGS.

Cotton

The United States is the largest supplier of cotton to Vietnam, reaching $1.3 billion in 2025 (a 122-percent increase from 2024), followed by Brazil ($693 million), and Australia ($383 million). Vietnam was the top market for U.S. cotton in 2025 and was the most important market in boosting U.S. exports during the previous year. Vietnam has witnessed record cotton consumption and imports due to notable growth in exports of finished products. Vietnam exported 1.05 million metric tons of cotton yarn in 2025 due to strong demand growth in China and other markets. Vietnam depends almost entirely on imports to meet growing cotton demand in its textile and yarn sector.

Ethanol (non-beverage)

The United States was the largest supplier of ethanol to Vietnam at $4.3 million in 2025, with a market share of 58 percent, followed by China (26 percent), and Japan (6 percent). The International Energy Agency forecasts Vietnam to consume around 2.9 billion gallons in 2026 and expects consumption to continue growing throughout the decade. Vietnam recently expanded its ethanol blending rate, increasing demand for ethanol for on-road fuel use. Previously, Vietnam had a 5 percent ethanol blend rate mandated for only one grade of gasoline. On June 1, 2026, Vietnam successfully began implementing a national requirement that all 95-octane unleaded gasoline must contain 10 percent ethanol (E10). This development will most likely further boost ethanol demand. In addition, on March 31, 2025, in advance of the E10 ethanol mandate, Vietnam announced the unilateral reduction of most-favored-nation (MFN) tariffs on ethanol from 10 to 5 percent.

Potential U.S. Agricultural-Related Products to Vietnam

Seafood

Driven by Vietnam's growing middle class, demand for safe, high-quality, and premium consumer-oriented seafood is surging. High-end U.S. products such as lobster, salmon, snow crab, and cod are highly sought after by Vietnam's expanding hotel, restaurant, and institutional sectors. Furthermore, Vietnamese seafood processors constantly require premium imported raw seafood (like pollock and salmon) to add value and re-export globally. In addition, U.S. packaged, processed, and high-quality frozen seafood is increasingly finding its way into Vietnamese modern supermarkets and e-commerce platforms.

U.S. seafood exports to Vietnam reached $114 million in 2025 (a 77-percent increase from 2024), from cod fish, salmon, pollock, and crab supplied to the hotel and restaurant segments and seafood processors supplying for Asian markets.

U.S. seafood exports to Vietnam typically include fresh, frozen, and processed seafood such as salmon, whitefish, and shrimp. The United States has a competitive advantage in certain whitefish and salmon products, which are in demand in Vietnam's retail food and institutional markets. The United States still held only a 3-percent market share, compared with India at 18 percent, Indonesia at 14 percent, China at 12 percent, and Japan at 10 percent.

Forestry Products

U.S. forest products exports to Vietnam reached $747 million in 2025 (a 114-percent increase from 2024), due to high purchases of hardwood logs. The United States was the top supplier of forest products to Vietnam in 2025, followed by China ($737 million), and the EU ($279 million). U.S. exports to Vietnam include logs, lumber, and processed wood products. Vietnam lumber mills use much of the lumber shipped to produce furniture for export to the United States, the EU and other markets, and for local consumption. Vietnam lumber mills also reprocess imported logs for onward export to China and other markets. Vietnam's wood sector has expanded to meet U.S. design and quality standards. This opportunity is tied to Vietnam's furniture, flooring, cabinetry, and re-export manufacturing sectors.

Trade Policy

Vietnam is a member of both the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and ASEAN, reflecting its dual role in regional economic integration and political cooperation. Vietnam has facilitated high-level dialogues between ASEAN and APEC leaders and leverages both platforms to advance trade liberalization, investment, and connectivity.

During the last 3o years, Vietnam has ratified several regional and bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs) with major trading partners. Where trading partners do not have an FTA in place, MFN tariff levels apply. Vietnam is a member of the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership, and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and has signed FTAs with the EU, Japan, the ROK, Chile, the United Kingdom, Israel, Cuba and United Arab Emirates. It became a World Trade Organization member in 2007. The United States is the only major agricultural trading partner not party to an FTA with Vietnam, placing it at a significant tariff disadvantage to competitors, especially for high-value products.

In June 2025, Vietnamese Government agencies signed 20 memoranda of understanding worth $3 billion to buy U.S. agricultural and timber products, aiming to balance trade and strengthen supply chains.

In October 2025, the United States and Vietnam announced the Agreement on the Framework for Reciprocal, Fair, and Balanced Trade. Negotiations for this agreement continue. This agreement aims to grant U.S. exporters access to Vietnam's market while enhancing U.S. national and economic security. Vietnam will offer preferential market access for U.S. exports by eliminating tariffs on nearly all goods, including food and agricultural products⁶.

The United States and Vietnam are working together to identify and eliminate obstacles to U.S. agricultural products in the Vietnamese market. This work includes ensuring Vietnam respects U.S. regulatory oversight and continues to quickly process U.S. biotech applications. Additionally, efforts will be made to facilitate trade in agricultural products and ensure ongoing access for U.S. goods. On January 26, 2026, the Government of Vietnam released Decree 43/2026/ND-CP, which notably revises the regulatory framework governing agricultural biotechnology. In accordance with Law 146/2025/QH15, this Decree simplifies the approval processes for genetically engineered food and feed products and introduces a self-determination procedure for gene-edited crops.

Conclusion

U.S. agricultural exports to Vietnam are a significant and growing segment of bilateral trade, supported by both market demand and recent trade agreements. A growing middle class, with modern retail and food processing sectors, drives demand for U.S. agricultural goods. Vietnamese consumers increasingly value U.S. products for their quality and safety.

¹ National Statistics Office of Vietnam.
² FAS Gain report, Food Processing Ingredients Annual, VM2026-0004, April 2026.
³ USDA press release, June 16, 2025.
⁴ FAS GAIN report, Grain and Feed Annual, VM2025-0015, April 2025.
⁵ FAS GAIN report, Oilseeds and Products Update, VM2025-0036, September 2025.
⁶ USTR fact sheet.