Vietnam boosts grain imports to support livestock sector

to Australian agro-analyst Peter McMickin from Grain Brokers Australia, grain imports are projected to rise by 4.4% to 28.7 million tons in 2025 and by an additional 2.8% to 29.5 million tons in 2026. Swine and poultry farming in Vietnam are recovering strongly, supported by improved disease control, favorable prices, and stable domestic demand. The Vietnam Bureau of the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) reports a 3.8% increase in swine numbers in 2025, driven by a shift to semi-industrial production models and partnerships between small farms and large enterprises. Aquaculture production also grew by 4.9% in the first half of 2025, reaching 2.6 million tons, with pangasius production hitting 872,000 tons (+4.5%) and exports exceeding $1 billion, up 10% from last year. Maize is the primary feed component, accounting for 38.5% of total feed volume, with the share of imported maize rising from 83.4% in 2024 to 85.5% in 2026. Domestic maize production is declining, from 4.1 ...