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Amid rising production costs and recurring disease pressures in several livestock industries, Vietnam’s poultry sector is maintaining strong growth in 2025, emerging as a bright spot in the country’s animal husbandry landscape.
The latest USDA report shows the national poultry flock increased by 3.7% in the first nine months of 2025, contrasting sharply with the decline in the swine sector, which fell 0.6% due to African swine fever (ASF).
Consumers shift toward poultry products
Falling hog prices since June 2025, coupled with lingering ASF concerns, have prompted consumers to turn to poultry meat.
Although broiler prices have edged upward, stable supply and lower disease risks have made poultry the preferred choice.
The report notes that farms with strong biosecurity practices have maintained flock stability, allowing them to meet growing market demand.
Rising feed demand favors poultry expansion
Vietnam’s total feed demand is projected to reach 28.3 million tons in 2025 – up from 2024, and is expected to climb to 29.2 million tons in 2026.
Feed demand for poultry and aquaculture continues to be the key driver of growth in the feed industry.
Declines in the prices of key ingredients such as corn and DDGS have helped producers reduce costs.
With poultry’s superior feed conversion efficiency, production has continued to expand.
Feed ingredient imports surge
The poultry industry is benefitting from ample feed ingredient supplies. According to the report:
- Vietnam imported 6.86 million tons of corn in the first eight months of 2025, similar to last year but 36% higher than in 2023.
- The US has risen to the third-largest corn supplier, accounting for 15% of imports.
- DDGS imports increased 10%, with the US providing 68% of total volume.
Competitive ingredient prices are easing production pressures, especially for broiler and layer operations.
Growing opportunities from consumer demand and food exports
Vietnam welcomed more than 15.4 million international visitors in the first nine months of 2025, up 21.5% year-on-year.
This surge has boosted demand for poultry meat, eggs, and processed poultry products.
At the same time, a regional shift away from red meat is opening new opportunities for Vietnam to expand both domestic sales and exports of value-added poultry products.
Challenges: Production costs, competition, and disease risks
Despite positive momentum, the sector still faces notable challenges:
- Significant dependence on imported feed ingredients – over 80%, keeps costs vulnerable to global market swings.
- Regional competitors such as Thailand and Malaysia are expanding poultry exports.
- Avian influenza remains a persistent threat, especially during erratic weather patterns.
Producers are advised to strengthen biosecurity, adopt high-performing breeds, and optimize feed formulas to protect margins.
A strong outlook for 2025-2026
Based on the report’s data, Vietnam’s poultry sector enters 2025 with solid fundamentals:
- Steady flock growth
- Strong consumption
- More favorable feed ingredient costs
- Fewer disease-related disruptions compared with the swine industry
If the sector maintains production momentum, controls disease risks, and capitalizes on market opportunities, poultry is poised to remain one of the core pillars of Vietnam’s livestock industry through 2025-2026.