Imported meat surge squeezes Vietnam’s livestock sector

A massive wave of low‑priced imported meat is flooding the Vietnamese market, driving domestic live hog and poultry prices down to their lowest levels this year. 

Paired with high feed costs and subdued consumer spending, local livestock farmers and enterprises now face an intense double whammy. 

Massive import surge 

According to preliminary customs statistics, Vietnam imported 494,300 tons of meat and meat products worth approximately USD 1.46 billion in the first six months of 2026. This marks a 9.6% increase in volume and a 36.4% jump in value compared to the same period in 2025. 

In Q2 2026 alone, meat imports reached 271,100 tons (USD 810.1 million), up 21.5% in volume from Q1 2026 and up 14.4% compared to Q2 2025. Key imported categories include poultry products, edible offal (pork, beef, and poultry), frozen pork, and frozen beef. 

These cheap imports undercut domestic products, intensifying competitive pressure on local farmers and enterprises already struggling with high feed costs. Combined with weak consumer demand and rising production, it has pushed farmgate prices to their lowest levels this year. 

Poultry farmers selling below production cost 

Vietnam’s poultry sector is under heavy pressure from both imports and oversupply. In the first half of 2026, the country imported between 185,000 and 195,000 tons of chicken, valued at USD 190–250 million. Frozen chicken leg quarters dominated these shipments, accounting for roughly 71.5%, or 130,000–140,000 tons. Wings made up about 12%, while chicken feet and offal represented close to 9%.

The US was the largest supplier, sending 115,000–120,000 tons and making up nearly 62% of total imports. The EU followed with 28,000–30,000 tons, mainly from Poland, while Brazil contributed 24,000–26,000 tons. These low‑priced imports, particularly US leg quarters, compete directly with Vietnam’s industrial broilers in catering and institutional markets.

Domestic prices have suffered as a result. In Southern Vietnam, industrial chicken fell to just USD 0.84–0.91/kg, well below production cost. Although July brought a modest recovery—USD 1.22–1.33/kg for industrial chicken and USD 1.79–1.83/kg for colored‑feather chicken—profitability remains severely compressed. The situation has been worsened by rapid flock expansion in late 2025, which created a glut that domestic farmers have been unable to absorb in the face of rising imports.

Live hog prices hit lowest point of the year 

While live hog prices hovered between USD 2.36–2.55/kg in July, new data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment indicate that prices have now crashed to USD 2.21–2.36/kg nationwide: 

• Northern Vietnam: USD 2.36–2.44/kg (down USD 0.13/kg vs June) 
• Central & Highlands: USD 2.28–2.36/kg (down USD 0.11/kg) 
• Southern Vietnam: USD 2.28–2.36/kg 

Livestock enterprises confirm these are the lowest hog prices since early 2026, leaving farmers with shrinking margins.

Top pork suppliers in Q2 were Spain (13,300 tons), Brazil (11,200 tons, up 26.5% from Q1), and Russia (10,700 tons). Despite higher freight rates, average import prices stayed low at USD 2.95/kg. 

Searching for survival strategies 

Vietnam’s livestock paradox is clear: strong domestic production but heavy reliance on imports, while exports remain minimal. 

In Q2 2026, exports totaled just 4,600 tons of meat (USD 29.4 million), down 25.4% in volume year‑on‑year. Six‑month exports reached only 9,300 tons (USD 62.73 million). 

Industry leaders warn that high feed costs and depressed selling prices leave farmers vulnerable to losses unless productivity improves significantly. 

To survive without relying on trade protectionism, domestic producers and enterprises must focus on long‑term competitiveness. This means lowering costs through better breeding efficiency, feed conversion, and biosecurity. Aligning farmgate costs with international benchmarks is critical. 

Shifting toward value‑added exports offers another path. Agreements with South Korea to open markets for processed poultry highlight