AsemconnectVietnam - Despite unpredictable fluctuations in the world economy, Vietnam's agriculture still sets an ambitious export target, aiming for the 100 billion USD mark in the next decade.

To realize this plan, at the Conference on promoting agricultural, forestry and fishery exports in 2025, managers, associations and businesses discussed key solutions, from maintaining growth momentum of over 4% per year to expanding markets and responding to new trade barriers.
Accumulated in the first 7 months of 2025, fruit and vegetable exports were estimated to reach 3.92 billion USD
Encouraging results in a challenging context
Vietnam's agricultural sector is setting ambitious export targets, aiming for the 100 billion USD mark in the near future. At the Conference on promoting agricultural, forestry and fishery exports in 2025 organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, with the participation of leaders of many ministries, branches, associations and exporting enterprises, to discuss and agree on solutions to realize these promising goals.
Speaking at the conference, Acting Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Duc Thang affirmed his determination to use all measures to achieve growth of the whole industry of over 4% and export turnover of agricultural, forestry and fishery products reaching over 65 billion USD, striving to reach 70 billion USD in 2025. Looking at the long term, the period of 2026-2030, the export target is even higher, aiming for 80, 90, even 100 billion USD. Mr. Thang expressed his confidence that this goal is completely feasible with the synchronous participation of state agencies, industry associations and the business community.
According to statistics, in the first 7 months of 2025, the export turnover of the entire agricultural and environmental sector reached 39.7 billion USD, an increase of 14.7% over the same period last year. Of which, agricultural products contributed 21.5 billion USD (up by 17%), forestry products reached 10.4 billion USD (up by 8.6%), and aquatic products reached 6.1 billion USD (up by 13.8%). Livestock products alone also recorded an impressive growth of 22.1%, reaching 339.2 million USD.
Traditional major markets such as the US, China and Japan continued to maintain growth momentum, especially exports to Europe increased by 49%, reaching 4.3 billion USD, the Middle East increased by 10.9%, and Africa increased by 8.9%. These figures show that the potential for expansion to markets outside the key group is huge.
However, in addition to the advantages, the industry still faces many challenges, most notably the 20% reciprocal tax policy from the US on some key products such as vegetables, wood and seafood. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang noted that food prices tend to increase, but rice prices have decreased and are expected to continue to decrease in the next 1-2 years. Many countries may apply export restrictions or suddenly impose quotas, causing unpredictable fluctuations in the market.
Proposing a series of solutions for Vietnam's exports
To achieve the set goals, Acting Minister Tran Duc Thang has proposed three major orientations that need to be implemented.
First, state agencies, especially the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, must be responsible for building a system of appropriate legal documents, administrative reform, cutting procedures while still meeting the strict import standards of other countries.
The Ministry will submit to the National Assembly a bill amending 15 laws in October and from 2026, it will comprehensively amend 17 legal documents to adapt to the new situation. This is to promptly answer and guide the difficulties of businesses, people and industry associations, while perfecting standards, regulations and raw material areas.
Second, the Ministry will focus on exchange rate, credit and logistics mechanisms, speed up negotiations with the US, quickly update market information, add value-added products such as seafood and processed fruits, and deploy specific solutions for each industry.
The Department of Quality, Processing and Market Development is also requested to develop a periodic newsletter updating production, import and export data, domestic and international market situations, and analyzing potential markets for businesses and people to refer to and orient effective production.
Third, in terms of markets, it is necessary to focus on both traditional and potential markets such as the EU (Vietnam only accounts for 2% of the market share), the UAE and neighboring regions (a market of 200 billion USD but Vietnam only accounts for 10%), Africa, South America. In particular, the domestic market with more than 100 million people also needs to be exploited effectively, replacing imports for products that can be produced domestically. Agreeing with the above viewpoint, many industry associations have also simultaneously made recommendations and solutions to remove difficulties, expand the market and increase export value.
Chairman of the Vietnam Rice Association (VIETRISA) Bui Ba Bong emphasized the importance of developing raw material areas, proposing to promote the program of "super raw material areas" of 1 million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice in the Mekong Delta. This model, associated with the brand "Green Vietnamese Rice - Low Emission", has had its first shipment exported to Japan. He also proposed to organize the 2nd International Rice Festival in 2026, aiming to become a major international trade event.
On the side of the Vietnam Food Association, Chairman Do Ha Nam proposed to expand rice exports to Japan, Korea and African markets, and at the same time recommended to soon remove obstacles related to VAT to facilitate businesses.
In the coffee-cocoa sector, Chairman of the Association Nguyen Nam Hai said that exempting VAT on green coffee beans will help reduce capital pressure for businesses, especially in the context of peak coffee prices and the US imposing a 20% tax. He also assessed China as a potential market that needs to be exploited soon.
Meanwhile, Ms. To Thi Tuong Lan - Deputy General Secretary of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) - predicted that the seafood industry could reach 9-9.5 billion USD if it makes good use of FTAs. However, challenges still come from US tax policies and domestic shortcomings such as Decree 37 applied to tuna. According to Ms. Lan, the seafood export picture at the end of the year will be "both challenging and hopeful".
The fruit and vegetable industry also recorded positive signals when Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh - Chairman of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association said that the United States is currently the fastest growing market with an increase of 66% in the first 6 months of 2025. However, the 20% tax rate is increasing prices and reducing competitiveness, so he recommended negotiating to bring this tax rate to 0% and increasing fruit imports from the US to reduce the trade deficit.
From a local perspective, Mr. Nguyen Hoang Phuc - Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Lam Dong proposed that the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment support negotiations with China to grant codes for growing areas and packaging facilities for durian and dragon fruit, while paving the way for official avocado exports.
Acting Minister Tran Duc Thang expressed his belief that with the Government's strong direction, the support of businesses and the coordination of ministries, branches and localities, the export target of 65 billion USD in 2025 is completely feasible, creating a foundation towards the 100 billion USD mark in the near future.
CK
Source: VITIC/ haiquanonline.com.vn