Trần Thanh Nam, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment, speaks at a conference on Promoting Agricultural, Forestry, and Fishery Exports in HCM City on August 12.— Photo Nguyễn Thủy

HCM CITY — Việt Nam’s agricultural, forestry, and fishery exports are expected to reach the target for 2025 of US$65 billion, a 4 per cent increase from last year, despite anticipated challenges in the remaining months, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.

At a conference on Promoting Agricultural, Forestry, and Fishery Exports in HCM City on August 12, Deputy Minister Trần Thanh Nam said that agricultural, forestry, and fishery exports reached $39.7 billion in the first seven months of 2025, up 14.7 per cent year-on-year.

Three major markets (US, China, and Japan) maintained growth, while exports to Europe surged 49 per cent to $4.3 billion, the Middle East rose 10.9 per cent, and Africa grew 8.9 per cent.

“With this momentum, the $65 billion target is within reach,” Nam said, adding that challenges remain, particularly reciprocal tariffs imposed by the US.

Nam outlined measures to sustain growth, including developing raw material zones, stepping up trade promotion, and diversifying export markets, especially by tapping deeper into Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, and expanding to Australia and New Zealand.

Vietnamese agricultural counselors in the EU, China, and the UAE–Qatar highlighted market potential and strategies.

Trần Văn Công, Agriculture Trade Counselor in the EU, said Việt Nam’s low share of processed agro-forestry-fishery products in Europe, leaving room for growth. He recommended building raw material zones that meet EU standards, creating disease-free livestock areas, strengthening national branding, diversifying products, and penetrating deeper into distribution chains.

In China, which imports around $2.5 trillion of goods annually, including $210–230 billion in agricultural products, opportunities are significant, according to Nông Đức Lai, Việt Nam’s trade counselor there.

However, China now enforces strict standards. Vietnamese firms must improve quality, packaging, and traceability, apply technology in production and preservation, and register trademarks early, he said.

In the UAE, where domestic production is limited, demand for imports is strong, said Trương Xuân Trung from the Vietnam Trade Office there.

In the first seven months, Việt Nam’s exports there grew sharply, led by cashew nuts (+34.6 per cent), fruits and vegetables (+55 per cent), seafood (+21 per cent), and wood products (+26.5 per cent).

With tariffs at 0–5 per cent and goods able to circulate across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) without additional tax, the market offers opportunities for Vietnamese goods, but strict quality compliance is essential.

Halal certification is mandatory, and exporters must understand Islamic culture and business practices, he said.

Sector performance and strategies

The conference attracts the participation of leaders from various ministries, sectors, associations, and export businesses. — Photo Nguyễn Thủy

Đỗ Hà Nam, chairman of the Vietnam Food Association, reported that Việt Nam exported 5.5 million tonnes of rice worth $2.8 billion in the first seven months.

Despite a 19 per cent price drop, output rose 3.1 per cent, bucking declines in other exporting countries.

Total exports in 2025 are projected at 8.8 million tonnes, keeping Việt Nam as the world’s second-largest rice exporter. He urged support to expand exports to Japan, South Korea, and Africa, and to develop high-quality varieties like ST25, praised overseas for its taste.

Nguyễn Nam Hải, chairman of the Vietnam Coffee and Cocoa Association, said coffee exports rose 66 per cent year-on-year to 1.1 million tonnes in the first seven months.

Europe remained the top market (670,000 tonnes worth $3.6 billion), followed by the Americas and Asia.

He urged firms to expand exports into China, where Vietnamese coffee exports remain small. With China recently licensing 183 Brazilian coffee exporters, Vietnamese firms must move quickly.

He forecast 1.5 million tonnes of coffee exports in the second half of 2025.

Seafood exports reached $6.22 billion, up 17.2 per cent year-on-year, according to Tô Thị Tường Lan, deputy general secretary of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers. While US tariffs are affecting shrimp, pangasius, and other products, recoveries in China, ASEAN, and Japan, plus eased EU technical barriers, could push exports to $9–9.5 billion this year, keeping the $10 billion target within sight.

For fruits and vegetables, the US is the fastest-growing market, with exports in the first half surging 66 per cent to $261.6 million, noted Nguyễn Thanh Bình, chairman of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association. However, a 20 per cent tariff reduces competitiveness. He suggested negotiating tariff cuts to 0 per cent, importing non-competing US fruits to balance trade, and focusing on deep processing for health-oriented products.

In his closing remarks, Acting Minister Trần Đức Thắng reaffirmed the $65 billion target, stressing the need to stabilise traditional markets, open new ones, shift from quantity to high-value processed products, and find solutions for products facing US tariff hurdles.

On US tariffs, Thắng noted they apply to all exporters, so the competitive gap is limited. The US still demands Vietnamese products such as shrimp and coffee, among the world’s best, especially when deeply processed. The ministry will review sound business proposals and work with the Ministries of Industry and Trade, Foreign Affairs, and others to respond effectively. — VNS