AsemconnectVietnam - Agricultural, forestry, and fishery product exports and imports continued to grow in the first quarter of 2026, maintaining a high trade surplus.

However, the trade picture in this sector also showed differentiation among product groups and markets, reflecting new challenges in the context of high logistics costs and international market volatility.
According to the statistics figures from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Vietnam's agricultural, forestry, and fishery product export turnover in March of 2026 was estimated at US$6.02 billion, a strong increase of 47.8% compared to the previous month, but still down by 1.5% compared to the same period last year.
In the first three months of 2026, the total exports of agricultural, forestry, and aquatic products reached US$16.69 billion, a 5.9% increase compared to the same period in 2025, showing a recovery trend in export activities amidst volatile international markets.
In the export structure, agricultural products continued to account for the largest share, reaching US$8.93 billion, a 4.1% increase compared to the same period last year. Several sectors recorded high growth rates, especially livestock and aquatic products, reflecting the recovery of consumer demand in many markets.
The export value of livestock products reached US$197.7 million, a 54.3% increase, while aquatic products reached US$2.62 billion, a 13.3% increase. In addition, the group of inputs for production reached US$834.3 million, an increase of 56.7%, and salt exports reached US$3.3 million, an increase of 31.7%.
The exports of forestry products reached US$4.11 billion, a decrease of 2.4%, indicating that some key sectors are still facing pressure from the market and production costs.
In terms of markets, Asia continued to be the largest consumer region for Vietnam's agricultural, forestry, and aquatic products, accounting for 45.1% of total export turnover. The next two largest regions were the Americas and Europe with market shares of 20.7% and 16.2% respectively. The remaining regions account for smaller proportions, with Africa accounting for 2.1% and Oceania for 1.4%.
In comparison to the same period last year, the exports to Asia increased by 15.3%, top Europe by 4.8%, and to Oceania by 20.1%, while exports to America decreased by 3.4% and Africa by 29%. This showed a clearer trend of shifting export markets, with an increasing reliance on Asian markets.
At the market level, China, the United States, and Japan continued to be Vietnam's three largest export markets for agricultural, forestry, and aquatic products, with market shares of 22.1%, 18.3%, and 7.1%, respectively.
Notably, the exports to the Chinese market in the first quarter of 2026 increased sharply by 37.6% compared to the same period last year, indicating a significant recovery in demand in this market.
Meanwhile, the exports to Japan increased only slightly by 0.7%, while the exports to the United States decreased by 5.2%, reflecting certain difficulties in one of Vietnam's important export markets.
Conversely, the import value of agricultural, forestry, and aquatic products in March of 2026 was estimated at US$4.46 billion, an increase of 37% compared to the previous month and 6.6% compared to the same period last year.
For the first three months of 2026, the total import value of agricultural, forestry, and aquatic products reached US$11.91 billion, an increase of 3.6% compared to the same period in 2025. This development showed that the demand for imported raw materials for domestic production and processing is recovering, and also reflects the increase in production activity of businesses.
In terms of import structure, the value of agricultural imports reached US$7.62 billion, an increase of 6.3%, while livestock imports reached US$1.16 billion, an increase of 10%. Forestry product imports reached US$786.8 million, an increase of 16.1%, and salt imports reached US$9.1 million, a sharp increase of 75.6%.
Conversely, seafood imports reached US$746.8 million, a decrease of 1.8%, and imports of production inputs reached US$1.59 billion, a decrease of 13%, indicating that businesses continue to cut costs and adjust production plans amidst market uncertainties.
In terms of supply sources, Vietnam mainly imported agricultural, forestry, and fisheries products from markets in Asia and America, with market shares of 27.7% and 26.6%, respectively.
The remaining regions accounted for smaller proportions, with Oceania at 4.6%, Europe at 3.9%, and Africa at 3.8%. Compared to the same period last year, the imports from the Americas increased by 10.9%, Oceania by 38.2%, and Africa by 56%, while imports from Asia decreased by 2.7% and from Europe by 3.3%.
At the market level, the United States, China, and Brazil were the three largest suppliers of agricultural, forestry, and aquatic products to Vietnam in the first quarter of 2026, with market shares of 11.8%, 9.9%, and 9.8%, respectively.
Notably, imports from the United States increased by 53.4% year-on-year, while imports from China increased by 13.3% and from Brazil by 11.1%, reflecting the increased demand for imported raw materials and products for domestic production.
Regarding the trade balance, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries continued to play a major role in contributing to Vietnam's trade surplus. The trade balance for agriculture, forestry, and fisheries in March of 2026 was estimated to have a surplus of US$1.55 billion, a sharp increase of 90.9% compared to the previous month but a decrease of 19.3% compared to the same period last year.
Overall, in the first three months of 2026, the trade surplus for agriculture, forestry, and fisheries reached approximately US$4.78 billion, an increase of 12% compared to the same period of 2025.
Despite maintaining positive growth, agricultural, forestry, and fisheries import and export activities in the first quarter of 2026 still face many challenges, especially fluctuations in logistics costs, fuel prices, and risks from international markets. In this context, improving processing capacity, diversifying export markets, and optimizing logistics costs will continue to be key factors in maintaining the growth momentum of the agricultural sector in the remaining quarters of 2026.
CK
Source: VITIC/ thuehaiquan.tapchikinhtetaichinh.vn