Low-priced imported poultry meat continues to intensify pressure on Vietnam’s market

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By the end of September 2026, Vietnam had spent nearly USD 2.2 billion on imports of meat and meat products.

Poultry meat and edible offal accounted for a significant share, with import prices considerably lower than those of comparable domestic products, adding to competitive pressure on Vietnam’s poultry sector.

Nearly USD 2.2 billion spent on meat imports

According to the latest data from the Customs Department under the Ministry of Finance, Vietnamese businesses spent more than USD 251.7 million importing meat and meat products in September 2026, up 16.2% from the previous month.

Cumulative import turnover for the first nine months of the year reached nearly UUSD 2.17 billion, an increase of 24.8% compared with the same period in 2025.

Imported products covered a wide range of categories, including poultry, pork, buffalo meat, fresh and frozen beef, and edible slaughter by-products. Notably, poultry is among the product categories with relatively low import prices.

Data available through the end of August showed that imported poultry meat had an average price of just around USD 1.10/kg. This price advantage gives imported products a significant competitive edge, particularly as domestic production costs remain high.

Low-priced imported poultry competes directly with domestic products

One factor contributing to the competitiveness of imported poultry is the composition of the products themselves.

In some countries with well-developed livestock industries, cuts such as thighs, wings, necks and feet, along with giblets and gizzards, may have lower commercial value than premium cuts. When exported, these products can be offered at relatively low prices.

In Vietnam, however, many are well suited to local consumer preferences and enjoy substantial demand. This gives imported poultry a dual advantage: low procurement costs and access to a market with relatively strong demand.

In Vietnam, low-priced imported poultry products are distributed through a variety of channels, including social media, retail networks, supermarkets and institutional catering services. Some products are even sold by small-scale vendors and street-side outlets.

According to a representative of the Vietnam Livestock Association, lower prices are one of the main factors driving the increase in meat imports. In addition, the range of imported products includes many items that align well with domestic consumption patterns.

Price disparities add to pressure on domestic farmers

Imported meat is sold at prices around 20-50% lower than those of some comparable domestic products, putting direct pressure on the competitiveness of local farms.

For the poultry sector, this challenge comes as domestic producers continue to face high costs for feed, breeding stock, electricity, labour, veterinary services and farm infrastructure. Meanwhile, imports from countries with large-scale livestock industries can benefit from economies of scale, higher productivity and lower production costs to offer more competitive prices.

The disparity is particularly significant for poultry products widely consumed in Vietnam. When consumers can access imported products at lower prices, domestic farms face additional pressure on both selling prices and market demand.

Vietnam’s poultry sector must strengthen competitiveness beyond price

As meat imports continue to rise, competing directly on price will be difficult for domestic producers. High production costs leave them with limited room to reduce selling prices.

The poultry sector therefore needs to place greater emphasis on improving productivity, controlling production costs and enhancing product quality.

Integrated supply chains also play a crucial role, linking breeding stock, feed supply and farming with slaughtering, processing and distribution.

In addition, expanding further processing can reduce reliance on fresh-product sales and generate greater added value.

Products with traceable origins that meet food safety and quality standards can also establish a point of differentiation from lower-priced imports.

The growth in meat imports reflects an increasingly open and competitive Vietnamese market. This presents both a challenge for the domestic livestock sector and a clear need to improve production efficiency and product quality.

For poultry producers, rather than focusing solely on expanding flock sizes, businesses and farmers need to prioritise productivity per bird, feed cost optimisation, disease control and lower mortality and production losses.

Building stable partnerships between farmers, processors and distributors will also help secure market outlets and strengthen traceability.

As low-priced imports continue to enter the market, the competitiveness of Vietnam’s poultry sector will increasingly depend on its ability to reduce production costs, improve quality, expand processed-product offerings and build strong brands, rather than relying solely on production scale.