According to General Department of Customs, in the first 8 months of 2024, Vietnam spent nearly $1.08 billion to import meat and meat products. Compared to the same period last year, import value of this group of items increased sharply by 20.3%.
On contrary, Vietnam's meat and meat products exports reached 105 million USD. Thus, Vietnam is having a trade deficit of about 970 million USD of meat and meat products.
Specifically, Vietnam imports fresh and frozen pork, beef, poultry and edible animal by-products such as chicken feet, chicken necks, chicken skin, hearts, kidneys, gizzards, etc.
Vietnam imports meat and meat products and by-products from 37 countries and territories around the world. Of which, India, Russia, Brazil, Germany, Canada, the US, Spain, Poland, etc. are main suppliers of livestock products for Vietnam in the past 8 months.
According to report of Department of Livestock (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), price of live pigs in countries that are suppliers to Vietnam is quite low. Specifically, in Russia, Brazil, Canada, price of this item is only 34,100 - 34,200 VND/kg; in the US it is 38,400 VND/kg.... Therefore, average price of imported pork is only 52,000 - 55,000 VND/kg. Meanwhile, in Vietnam, price of live pigs ranges from 61,000 - 67,000 VND/kg; pork products on market are commonly priced from 120,000 - 250,000 VND/kg depending on type. Mr. Pham Kim Dang - Deputy Director of Department of Animal Husbandry (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) - said that in recent years, Vietnam has been known as a country with the world's 5th largest pig farming industry in terms of head and 6th in terms of meat output. Accordingly, China leads (48%), EU is second (20%), the US is third (11%), Brazil (4%), Russia (4%), Vietnam (3%).
In terms of pork consumption, among the 10 countries with the highest consumption in the world, Vietnam ranks 6th with a pork consumption/production ratio of 105.4%. Domestic pork production only meets 95% of pork consumption demand.
"Amount of pork consumed per capita in Vietnam has gradually increased in recent years. In 2021, it was about 30 kg of pork meat/person/year. In 2022, it was about 32 kg of pork meat/person/year. In 2023, it was about 33.8 kg of pork meat/person/year", Mr. Pham Kim Dang pointed out.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien said that in the food basket, pork accounts for 65% of the consumer price index (CPI).

Source: Vitic/ congthuong.vn