AFF exports surpass $23B in first four months

On the morning of May 14, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE) held a conference to review performance in April and outline tasks for May and Q2 2026.

In April 2026, the international context remained complex and unpredictable. Domestically, the economy maintained its recovery momentum but continued to face multiple challenges, including inflationary pressures, fluctuations in input material prices, unstable export markets, and the limited resilience of enterprises.

In the agriculture and environment sector, weather patterns were increasingly erratic, with rising risks of drought, saltwater intrusion, and localized water shortages in several localities. Requirements have intensified for ensuring water resource security, food safety, climate change response, environmental pollution control, and the promotion of green growth.

AFF exports surpass USD 23 billion in first four months

In the first four months of 2026, agro-forestry-fishery export turnover was estimated at USD 23.04 billion, up 5.4%. Of this, agricultural products reached USD 12.16 billion, up 1.5%; livestock products recorded the strongest growth at 45.5%, reaching USD 245 million; seafood reached USD 3.59 billion, up 11.9%; and forestry products reached USD 5.82 billion, up 0.8%.

On the import side, total turnover reached USD 17.65 billion, up 12%, resulting in a continued trade surplus of USD 5.39 billion. Meanwhile, imports of production inputs declined by 12.9%, indicating an adjustment in the import structure.

On May 8, 2026, the MAE advised the Government to organize a conference to promote agro-forestry-fishery exports to ensure the 2026 growth target. The conference focused on assessing market conditions, identifying challenges, and proposing solutions to boost production, processing, and consumption and expand export markets.

Regarding public investment and national target programs, the Ministry submitted two decisions to the Prime Minister on the National Target Programs for new rural development, sustainable poverty reduction, and socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas for the 2026–2030 period. At the same time, the Ministry continues to finalize documentation to establish a Steering Committee to implement the programs in the new phase.

Maintaining the double-digit growth target

In the coming period, the MAE will identify numerous key task groups. Of which, the Ministry will focus on finalizing the Action Program to implement Conclusion No. 18-KL/TW in line with the double-digit growth target; reviewing and removing bottlenecks related to land, environment, and minerals; and studying amendments to the Law on Land, the Law on Environmental Protection, and the Law on Marine and Island Resources and Environment.

Within May 2026, the Ministry is expected to complete the dossier for submission to the Government on the draft law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Environmental Protection, and to finalize the reduction and simplification of administrative procedures as directed by the Prime Minister before May 20, 2026.

The Ministry will also continue to review and streamline its organizational structure toward greater efficiency and effectiveness in state management; accelerate the disbursement of public investment capital with a target of 100% disbursement of the planned capital; promote digital transformation and the cleansing of nationwide land data; and finalize the legal framework for rare earth management while formulating a rare earth management strategy.

In parallel, the Ministry will finalize two major projects on the management and utilization of carbon credits to support sustainable development and on summarizing the implementation of Resolution No. 24-NQ/TW on climate change, natural resource management, and environmental protection for submission to the Government in May 2026.

In addition, the Ministry has requested its units to strictly implement measures to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing; proactively prevent and control foot-and-mouth disease; and closely monitor weather and disaster developments to ensure timely response during the upcoming rainy and storm season.

The MAE also underscored the task of ensuring national food security; promoting agro-forestry-fishery exports; and building brands, geographical indications, planting area codes, growing area codes, and robust product traceability systems. At the same time, the Ministry called for proactively developing growth scenarios and maintaining flexible responses to the fast-changing and complex global situation.