Agro-forestry-fishery exports rise 6% in first half of 2026

Agro-forestry-fishery exports rise 6% in first half of 2026

Export turnover in June alone stood at $6.34 billion, rising 3 per cent from May and 10.1 per cent from the same month last year.

Farmers harvest coffee in the Central Highlands. Coffee is among the key foreign currency earner of Việt Nam. — Photo VNA

Việt Nam's agro-forestry-fishery product exports brought home an estimated US$35.88 billion in the first half of 2026, up 6 per cent year-on-year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.

Export turnover in June alone stood at $6.34 billion, rising 3 per cent from May and 10.1 per cent from the same month last year.

Of the six-month total, agricultural products generated $18.59 billion, up 0.2 per cent year-on-year; aquatic products $5.7 billion, up 11.4 per cent; forestry products $9.2 billion, up 4.6 per cent; livestock products $375.8 million, up 34.6 per cent; and salt $7.7 million, up 39.8 per cent.

Despite the export growth, the sector's trade surplus narrowed to an estimated $9.2 billion, down 7.7 per cent from a year earlier.

Forestry recorded the largest trade surplus of $7.36 billion, up 1.4 per cent, followed by aquatic products at $4.13 billion, up 17 per cent. Agricultural products posted a surplus of $1.51 billion, a sharp decline of 60.6 per cent year-on-year.

Among individual commodities, six recorded trade surpluses exceeding $1 billion. Timber and wood products led the list with $6.73 billion, up 0.9 per cent, followed by coffee at $4.58 billion  despite a 15 per cent decline. Fruit and vegetables, shrimp, rice and tra fish also remained among the top surplus earners.

Asia continued to be Việt Nam's largest export market for agro-forestry-fishery products, accounting for 44.4 per cent of total exports during the first six months. The Americas ranked second with 21.4 per cent, followed by Europe with 14.4 per cent. Africa and Oceania represented 2.4 per cent and 1.5 per cent, respectively.

Exports to Asia increased 11 per cent year-on-year while shipments to Europe rose 2.2 per cent and those to Oceania climbed 21.1 per cent. In contrast, exports to the Americas fell 2.3 per cent, and those to Africa dropped 17.3 per cent.

China remained Việt Nam's largest export destination, accounting for 21.3 per cent of total turnover, followed by the US with 19 per cent and Japan with 6.8 per cent. Exports to China surged 23.1 per cent while shipments to Japan edged up 1.6 per cent. Exports to the US, however, declined 3.6 per cent.

Fruit, vegetables and pepper stood out among Vietnam's key foreign currency earners.

Fruit and vegetable exports rose 17.7 per cent to $3.65 billion, with China remaining the largest market, accounting for 51.2 per cent of total exports and recording growth of 27.9 per cent. Shipments to the US and the Republic of Korea also increased by 12.2 per cent and 8.4 per cent, respectively.

As many as 151,900 tonnes of pepper worth $945.9 million were shipped abroad during the reviewed period, up 23.3 per cent in volume and 11.6 per cent in value. The US, Germany and Thailand were the largest markets, with exports to Thailand soaring 95.1 per cent and those to the US rising 19.2 per cent.

Rice and coffee both recorded higher export volumes but lower export values due to lower average prices.

Việt Nam exported 5.2 million tonnes of rice in the first half of the year, up 9.9 per cent, but export revenue slipped 2.5 per cent to $2.38 billion as the average export price fell 11.3 per cent to $459.6 per tonne. The Philippines remained the largest buyer, accounting for 45 per cent of total exports while shipments to China jumped 87 per cent.

Coffee exports increased 9.7 per cent in volume to 1.1 million tonnes, but earnings dropped 14.4 per cent to $4.78 billion as average prices declined 22 per cent to $4,435 per tonne. Germany, Italy and the US were still Việt Nam's largest coffee consumers. Meanwhile, shipments to China surged 70.7 per cent.

Cashew exports presented the opposite trend. Export volume fell 1.8 per cent to 338,400 tonnes, but turnover rose 1.6 per cent to $2.39 billion thanks to a 3.5 per cent increase in average export prices. China, the US and the Netherlands remained the leading markets.

Cassava and cassava products also saw declines in export volumes but increases in value. Shipments declined 12 per cent to two million tonnes, but earnings edged up 2.2 per cent to $701.9 million as average prices rose 16.2 per cent. China accounted for 92.4 per cent of the total revenue.

Meanwhile, both rubber and tea witnessed lower export volumes and value. Rubber exports dropped 7.9 per cent in volume to 639,100 tonnes and 4.3 per cent in value to $1.23 billion although average export prices increased 3.9 per cent. Tea exports fell 8.1 per cent in volume to 53,200 tonnes and 7.3 per cent in value to $89.5 million.

On the import side, Việt Nam spent an estimated $26.68 billion on agro-forestry-fishery imports in the first six months of 2026, up 11.7 per cent year-on-year.

Imports of livestock, forestry and agricultural products all posted double-digit growth, the ministry reported.

Bizhub