CHINA SURPASSES U.S. AS VIETNAM’S TOP AGRO-FORESTRY-FISHERY PRODUCTS BUYER IN Q1

Workers process fish for export at a local facility – PHOTO: TRUNG CHANH

HCMC – China overtook the United States as Vietnam’s largest market for agro-forestry-fishery products in the first quarter of 2026, as shipments to the northern neighbor surged, data showed.

Vietnam’s agro-forestry-fishery exports in January-March reached US$16.69 billion, up 5.9% versus the year-ago period, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.

China accounted for 22.1% of the total, surpassing the U.S. at 18.3% and Japan at 7.1% to become the largest buyer of Vietnamese agro-forestry-fishery products.

Notably, the nation’s exports to China surged 37.6%, the highest growth among major markets, driven by gains across key sectors, including agricultural products, seafood and forestry goods.

Rice recorded the sharpest increase, with export value to China rising 2.5 times as the country stepped up imports to strengthen food security, significantly lifting overall exports in the first quarter.

Coffee also showed strong momentum. While average export prices fell 16.9% overall, shipments to China doubled in value, pointing to rapidly growing demand in the market.

China remained the largest market for fruit and vegetables, accounting for about 54% of exports, with shipments rising 76.2% on strong demand for durian, jackfruit and other tropical fruits.

Seafood exports to China rose 58.5%, while wood and wood products increased 48.5%, partly offsetting weaker demand from the U.S. Other exports also grew, with cashew nuts up 23.7% and cassava and related products rising 15.1%, further strengthening China’s role in Vietnam’s export mix.

Asia remained Vietnam’s biggest buyer, making up 45.1% of total agro-forestry-fishery exports, highlighting a shift toward closer markets with lower logistics costs.

On the import side, agro-forestry-fishery imports totaled US$11.91 billion, up 3.6%.

As a result, the sector maintained a trade surplus of US$4.78 billion, up 12% year-on-year, led by forestry products at US$3.32 billion, seafood at US$1.87 billion and agricultural products at US$1.31 billion.

Source: The Saigon Times