Vietnam’s Agricultural Forestry and Fishery Exports Surge in Q1 2025, Expanding Global Reach

Strong Growth for Vietnam’s Agricultural Forestry and Fishery Exports in Q1 2025

Despite global economic uncertainties, Vietnam’s agricultural forestry and fishery exports posted remarkable growth in the first quarter of 2025. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, total export value for this sector reached $15.72 billion, marking a 13.1% increase compared to the same period in 2024.

Specifically, agricultural exports hit $8.53 billion (+12.2%), forestry exports totaled $4.21 billion (+11.2%), fishery exports surged to $2.29 billion (+18.1%), and livestock products saw a robust increase of 18.5%.

Asia Remains the Largest Market for Vietnam’s Agricultural, Forestry, and Fishery Exports

In Q1 2025, Asia accounted for 42% of Vietnam’s total agricultural forestry and fishery exports, maintaining its position as the top destination. The Americas followed with 22.5%, and Europe accounted for 16.6%. Among individual countries, the United States led with 20.2%, followed by China (17.3%) and Japan (7.7%).

Coffee Export Revenue Jumps Thanks to Higher Prices

Vietnam exported 509,500 tons of coffee, generating $2.88 billion in revenue. Although volume fell by 12.9%, the value jumped 49.5% due to a significant increase in average export prices, reaching $5,656/ton. Germany, Italy, and Japan were the top three buyers, with exports to Germany up 79.3%, Japan 56.1%, and Italy 31.9%. Poland was the fastest-growing market, while Indonesia saw a decline of 37.5%.

Pepper, Rubber, and Cashews Maintain Steady Momentum

• Pepper exports reached 47,300 tons, worth $323.6 million – a 16.7% drop in volume but a 37.3% rise in value, with average prices hitting $6,845/ton. The U.S., Germany, and India were the top importers.

• Rubber exports totaled 396,100 tons for $765.8 million, down 4.4% in volume but up 26.1% in value. China dominated with a 73.7% share. Exports to Indonesia tripled, while those to India dropped 27.5%.

• Cashew exports stood at 121,400 tons, valued at $841.1 million, with average prices at $6,929/ton. The U.S., Netherlands, and China were the top three destinations. While exports to the Netherlands rose 43.5%, those to the U.S. and China fell sharply.

Rice and Fruits: The Downside in an Otherwise Bright Picture

Despite overall growth in agricultural forestry and fishery exports, rice and fruit exports experienced a dip:

• Rice exports totaled 2.2 million tons worth $1.14 billion, a slight increase in volume (+0.6%) but a sharp 19.7% drop in value due to lower prices. The Philippines remained the largest importer, while exports to Ivory Coast and Ghana rose significantly.

• Fruit and vegetable exports declined 11.3% to $1.14 billion. China, despite holding a 44.5% market share, saw a 38.9% drop, while the U.S. and South Korea increased by 65.5% and 0.1%, respectively. The UK grew the most, by 77.8%.

Cassava Products Increase in Volume but Fall in Value

Vietnam exported 1.2 million tons of cassava and its products in Q1 2025, worth $379.7 million. While volume rose 29.7%, value fell 11.6% due to a 31.9% decline in average prices. China remained the dominant buyer.

Fisheries and Wood Products Lead Growth in Q1

Two of the brightest sectors in agricultural forestry and fishery exports were seafood and wood products:

• Fishery exports hit $2.29 billion, up 18.1%. China, Japan, and the U.S. were top markets, with exports to China surging 75.9%.

• Wood and wood product exports reached $3.95 billion, a 11.6% increase. The U.S. remained the largest market (53.1%), followed by Japan (13.2%) and China (10.6%). Exports to India nearly doubled (+95.9%).

Trade Surplus in Agricultural, Forestry, and Fishery Sector Increases

Vietnam achieved a $4.4 billion trade surplus in agricultural forestry and fishery exports for Q1 2025, a 13.1% rise year-on-year. This strong performance underscores Vietnam’s growing global competitiveness and export capacity.

Sustainable Development Goals for the Export Sector

To maintain this momentum, Vietnam’s agricultural, forestry, and fishery export sector aims to:

• Improve processing and preservation quality

• Increase deep-processing rates to reduce raw exports

• Expand markets beyond Asia, especially into Europe and Africa

• Promote digital transformation and traceability across supply chains