June 15, 2026
 

Rising meat imports and higher input costs squeeze Vietnam's pig farmers

A 26% jump in meat and meat by-product imports in the first five months of 2026 is compounding pressure on domestic producers already hit by four consecutive rounds of feed cost increases tied to the Middle East conflict.

Vietnam's livestock sector imported US$2.2 billion worth of goods in the first five months of 2026, up nearly 30% year-on-year, as a surge in cheaper imported meat weighs on domestic live pig prices and threatens margins for small-scale producers.

Meat and edible meat by-products accounted for US$910.5 million of that total, a 26% increase over the same period in 2025. A representative from the Binh Dien wholesale market in Ho Chi Minh City attributed the surge to a persistent price gap between domestic and imported product - domestic pork prices held at around VND68,000-70,000/kg (approximately US$2.67-2.75/kg) in the early part of the year, running 30-40% above prices in neighbouring markets, particularly China. Shifting consumer preferences toward frozen meat, improved import quality controls and tighter household spending have reinforced the trend.

Live pig prices have since dropped sharply, falling from VND70,000/kg to just over VND60,000/kg (approximately US$2.35/kg). Nguyen Kim Doan, Vice Chairman of the Dong Nai Livestock Association, said the decline has been compounded by an oversupply of poultry, which has added further downward pressure on pork. He noted that input costs have risen four times consecutively since March following the outbreak of the Middle East conflict, with feed, electricity, water, labour and veterinary costs together adding an estimated VND250,000 (approximately US$9.80) per pig to production expenses.

"It is likely that pork prices will remain low for a long time because there are no signs that purchasing power will recover. The seventh lunar month is approaching, a period when many people in the South switch to vegetarianism, so demand will likely decrease even further," Doan said.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment attributed the supply build-up partly to rapid restocking during the period of high pork prices late last year. The national pig herd has grown 2.8% year-on-year, with particularly strong increases recorded in Gia Lai and An Giang (7.5%), Lam Dong (6.9%), and Thai Nguyen (6%). The national poultry flock has expanded by 3.5%, with the chicken population up 3.8%, adding to the competitive pressure on pork. The ministry noted that meat supplies are abundant across many localities and prices are likely to continue easing in the short term.

- Thanh Nien