Livestock product exports increase by 17.4%
According to Mr. Pham Kim Dang, Deputy Director of Department of Livestock and Veterinary Medicine, in 2025, export value of Vietnam's livestock products reached US$628 million, an increase of 17.4% compared to the same period in 2024 and far exceeding the US$550 million target set by Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.
According to AgroMonitor, as of December 23, 2025, Vietnam had exported 1,400 breeding pigs to Laos and Cambodia, worth approximately US$920,000. Although the quantity decreased by 17%, the value increased by 40%, showing that the added value and quality of breeding stock are increasingly recognized by the market.
Notably, exports of frozen whole pork, suckling pigs and young pigs reached over 620,000, equivalent to US$63.5 million, an increase of 12% compared to the same period. Export of live cattle and buffaloes also reached over US$37.2 million, an increase of 12%.
In poultry group, total volume of exported breeding chickens exceeded 14 million, an increase of 138.1%, including egg-laying, white and colored chickens. Meanwhile, export value of poultry eggs reached approximately US$1.4 million, although it decreased by 38% compared to the previous year.
In particular, animal feed and raw materials continued to be a major highlight, with export value in 2025 estimated at US$1.6 billion, an increase of 45% compared to the same period in 2024.
Along with growth in export value, international cooperation and trade promotion in the livestock and veterinary sectors were strengthened. Vietnam upgraded 2016 Memorandum of Understanding with China on rice bran exports to a Protocol (signed on April 15, 2025). To date, 12 Vietnamese enterprises have been granted export codes, with an average output of 100,000 tonnes/month, estimated at 1.2 million tonnes/year, worth approximately 400-500 million USD.
In 2025, technical negotiations and market opening for livestock products will achieve significant results, creating a foundation for promoting official exports.
Regarding bird's nests and bird's nest products, Vietnam completed negotiations and signed the Protocol on exporting bird's nests to China on April 15, 2025. Based on this, a conference to implement the Protocol was held on May 8, 2025, to guide businesses in its implementation. In 2025, relevant agencies reviewed and assessed 34 enterprise applications for exporting bird's nests to China; to date, China has approved 15 enterprises and is conducting online inspections of the remaining 3 enterprises. Regarding poultry meat and eggs, Vietnam has successfully negotiated the opening of the processed poultry meat market by May 2025. Currently, relevant authorities are continuing to work with Singapore to open the market for commercial eggs and fresh and frozen poultry meat.
Simultaneously, national dossier for registering poultry meat exports to China has been completed, and the next steps in the import risk analysis process are being coordinated. Notably, in December 2025, Vietnam completed negotiations and received a Korean assessment team for on-site inspection, the final step towards opening the processed poultry meat market.
Regarding milk and dairy products, Vietnam successfully negotiated for exports to Singapore starting in November 2025; and also supported the renewal of export licenses for 10 dairy processing plants to Chinese market. Assessment of registration dossier for exporting milk and dairy products to Japan has been completed; the two sides are currently exchanging samples of the Export Quarantine Certificate. In addition, the national dossier on dairy products continues to be supplemented and updated to open the markets of Malaysia and Indonesia.
Regarding farmed monkeys and crocodiles, authorities have worked with the General Administration of Customs of China to clarify the registration process. Accordingly, businesses exporting live monkeys and crocodiles are not required to register, and a requirement for testing for Salmonella spp. has been agreed upon. Currently, discussions and official documents are being prepared for the Ministry's leadership to formally discuss the testing requirements for crocodiles with Chinese side.
Expanding export markets for livestock products
Entering 2026, livestock industry will focus on expanding export markets, considering this a crucial driving force for growth and increasing the added value of livestock products.
Accordingly, the industry will continue to encourage and support businesses in improving production capacity, expanding output, and diversifying export items to open markets such as Japan, Russia, the Eurasian Economic Union, Hong Kong (China), Singapore and China.
Simultaneously, effectively utilizing Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) such as EVFTA, CPTPP and RCEP is identified as a key solution to accelerate the search for and negotiation of new markets, focusing on products with competitive advantages such as bird's nests and bird's nest products, honey, and processed poultry products.
In particular, livestock industry will accelerate construction of disease-free zones and facilities, considering this a prerequisite for sustainable export expansion. The focus will be on zones and facilities within the scope of the Memorandum of Understanding on disease safety between Vietnam and China, thereby creating a foundation to promote export of animals and animal products to potential, high-demand markets such as China, South Korea, EU and Islamic and Middle Eastern countries.

Source: Vitic/ congthuong.vn