At a press conference on June 3, 2025, providing information on the agricultural sector’s performance for the first five months of 2025, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Phung Duc Tien announced that Vietnam’s agricultural, forestry, and aquatic product exports in May 2025 are estimated to reach USD 6.28 billion, a 19.6% increase compared to the same period last year.
STRONG GROWTH IN EXPORTS OF COFFEE, RUBBER, PEPPER, AND CASHEW
For the first five months of 2025, the total export turnover of agricultural, forestry, and aquatic products reached USD 28.04 billion, a 15.1% increase compared to the same period in 2024. This includes agricultural product exports worth USD 15.29 billion, up by 16.3%; livestock product exports worth USD 217.2 million, up by 11.7%; aquatic product exports worth USD 4.11 billion, up by 15.1%; forestry product exports worth USD 7.48 billion, up by 11.7%; exports of input materials for production worth USD 938.7 million, up by 24.3%; and salt exports worth USD 4.6 million, a 2.4-fold increase.
In terms of regions, Asia remains the largest market for Vietnam’s agricultural, forestry, and aquatic products, accounting for 42% of the total export turnover. The Americas and Europe follow with a market share of 23% and 16.1%, respectively. Africa and Oceania have smaller market shares, at 3.3% and 1.3%, respectively. Compared to the same period last year, the export turnover of Vietnam’s agricultural, forestry, and aquatic products to Asia in the first five months of 2025 increased by 1.8%; the Americas by 17.2%; Europe by 46.8%; Africa by 94.1%; and Oceania by 4.6%.
Looking at specific markets, the United States remains the largest importer of Vietnam’s agricultural, forestry, and aquatic products, with a market share of 20.5%. China and Japan are the second and third largest importers, with market shares of 17.3% and 7.3%, respectively. Compared to the same period last year, exports to the United States increased by 14.1%, while exports to China decreased by 0.2% and exports to Japan increased by 25.9%.
Many commodities maintained high export growth rates. Coffee exports in May 2025 are estimated at 170,000 tons, valued at USD 990.8 million. This brings the total coffee export volume and value for the first five months of 2025 to 835,900 tons and USD 4.79 billion, up by 0.9% and 65.1%, respectively, compared to the same period in 2024. The average export price of coffee in the first five months of 2025 is estimated at USD 5,726.2/ton, a 63.7% increase compared to the same period last year.
Cashew nut exports in May 2025 are estimated at 70,000 tons, valued at USD 469.8 million. Cumulative cashew nut exports for the first five months of 2025 reached 265,600 tons, valued at USD 1.8 billion, a decrease of 9.1% in volume but an increase of 14.2% in value compared to the same period in 2024. The average export price of cashew nuts in the first five months of 2025 is estimated at USD 6,789.1/ton, a 25.7% increase compared to the same period last year.
Pepper exports in May 2025 are estimated at 25,000 tons, valued at USD 176 million. Total pepper exports for the first five months of 2025 reached 98,600 tons, valued at USD 684.4 million, a decrease of 13.6% in volume but an increase of 39.2% in value compared to the same period in 2024. The average export price of pepper in the first five months of 2025 is estimated at USD 6,937.4/ton, a 61.1% increase compared to the same period last year.
Rubber exports in May 2025 are estimated at 80,000 tons, valued at USD 145.3 million. Total rubber exports for the first five months of 2025 reached 532,500 tons, valued at USD 1.02 billion, a decrease of 7.2% in volume but an increase of 18.2% in value compared to the same period in 2024. The average export price of rubber in the first five months of 2025 is estimated at USD 1,911.9/ton, a 27.3% increase compared to the same period last year.
RICE AND VEGETABLE EXPORTS DECLINE
Rice exports in May 2025 are estimated at 1.1 million tons, valued at USD 573.1 million. Total rice exports for the first five months of 2025 reached 4.5 million tons, valued at USD 2.34 billion, an increase of 12.2% in volume but a decrease of 8.9% in value compared to the same period in 2024. The average export price of rice in the first five months of 2025 is estimated at USD 516.4/ton, a decrease of 18.7% compared to the same period last year.
The Philippines remains the largest market for Vietnamese rice, with a market share of 41.4%. Ivory Coast and China are the second and third largest markets, with market shares of 11.9% and 10.3%, respectively. Compared to the same period last year, the export value of rice to the Philippines decreased by 21.8%, while exports to Ivory Coast increased by 2.7 times and exports to China increased by 83.7%.
The export value of vegetables and fruits in May 2025 is estimated at USD 550 million, bringing the total export value of vegetables and fruits in the first five months of 2025 to USD 2.24 billion, a decrease of 16% compared to the same period in 2024.
China remains the main market for Vietnam’s vegetables and fruits, accounting for 46.1% of the total export value. The United States and South Korea are the second and third largest markets, with export values of 9.1% and 6%, respectively. Compared to the same period last year, vegetable and fruit exports to China decreased by 32.8%, while exports to the United States increased by 66% and exports to South Korea decreased by 5.2%.
Among the top 15 export markets, the value of vegetable and fruit exports increased the most in Hong Kong, doubling compared to the same period in 2024, while it decreased the most in China, with a drop of 32.8%.
STRONG GROWTH IN AQUATIC PRODUCTS AND WOOD PRODUCTS EXPORTS
The export value of aquatic products in May 2025 is estimated at USD 900 million, bringing the total export value of aquatic products in the first five months of 2025 to USD 4.11 billion, an increase of 15.1% compared to the same period in 2024. China, the United States, and Japan are the three largest importers of Vietnam’s aquatic products, with market shares of 20%, 16.6%, and 15.3%, respectively.
Compared to the same period last year, aquatic product exports to China increased by 61.5%, the United States by 14.5%, and Japan by 11.5%. Among the top 15 export markets, the value of aquatic product exports increased the most in Brazil, with a growth of 64.9%, while it decreased slightly in Hong Kong by 0.3%.
The export value of wood and wood products in May 2025 is estimated at USD 1.6 billion, bringing the total export value of wood and wood products in the first five months of 2025 to USD 6.99 billion, an increase of 11.5% compared to the same period in 2024. The United States is the largest importer of Vietnam’s wood and wood products, accounting for 54.4% of the total export value. Japan and China are the second and third largest importers, with market shares of 12.8% and 10.5%, respectively. Compared to the same period last year, wood and wood product exports to the United States increased by 10.3%, Japan by 26.6%, while exports to China decreased by 15.4%.
Among the top 15 export markets, the value of wood and wood product exports increased the most in Spain, with a growth of 64%, while it decreased the most in the Netherlands, with a drop of 24.6%, compared to the previous year.
The Finest Vietnamese Robusta Coffee: Under Threat?
Once the undisputed leader in Robusta coffee with a global market share of nearly 40%, Vietnam now faces the threat of losing its top exporter status to Brazil due to consistently declining production. The 2024/2025 crop year saw Robusta yields plunge to a four-year low, casting a shadow over the country’s dominance in the coffee industry.
The Coffee Export Conundrum: Can We Still Hit the $7 Billion Mark in 2025?
In the coming months, Vietnam’s coffee exports to the US market are expected to face challenges due to tax policies favoring Brazilian coffee. However, industry experts predict that coffee exports for the full year of 2025 can still reach a record-breaking $7 billion.
The Green Revolution: 2024 Sees a Stellar Rise in Agricultural Exports
2024 was a landmark year for Vietnam’s agricultural, forestry, and seafood exports, with a record turnover of 62.5 billion USD, an impressive 18.7% increase from 2023. This remarkable growth, the highest in two decades, was driven by strong performance across key agricultural products, including rice, coffee, fruits and vegetables, timber, cashew nuts, and seafood, all of which experienced significant increases.
The $1 Billion Product from Vietnam that Malaysia is Frantically Sourcing: Exports Soar by Over 1,000%, with a Third of the World Racing to Secure Orders.
China is Vietnam’s largest trading partner and this relationship is of great significance to both countries.
The Robust Coffee Bean: A Record-Breaking Brew
November marks the peak harvest season for Vietnamese Robusta coffee, yet coffee prices for this period have soared to a staggering peak of over 5,000 USD per ton.
