AFF exports surpass $30 bln in the first five months of 2026

At the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE)'s regular press briefing for June, Mr. Nguyen Gia Long, Deputy Director General of the Department of Planning and Finance, provided information on agro-forestry-fishery (AFF) production and trade results in May 2026, as well as key tasks and solutions for the coming period. According to him, over the past five months, the sector had maintained positive growth momentum, ensuring a supply-demand balance while moving toward achieving its annual targets.

Stable production, exports maintaining growth momentum amid market volatility

According to the MAE, AFF production achieved encouraging results in the first five months of 2026, contributing to the stable supply of food products for both domestic consumption and export. Notably, all subsectors recorded positive developments, providing a solid foundation for the sector to achieve its annual growth targets.

Specifically, in crop production, the winter-spring rice-growing area reached 2.98 million hectares, up 0.3% from the same period last year. However, output reached 13.96 million tons, down 2.4%. Meanwhile, 1.29 million hectares of summer-autumn rice had been planted, increasing by 3% and reflecting proactive production organization.

In the livestock sector, both pig and poultry herds increased by 3.7%, reflecting a trend of recovery and stable growth. In contrast, buffalo and cow herds declined by 2.9% and 0.7%, respectively, indicating adjustments in livestock production structure.

Regarding forestry, the newly planted forest area reached 101,400 hectares, up 1.9%, while timber output reached 8.7 million m³, up 3.8%. Meanwhile, fisheries remained a bright spot, with total output reaching 3.9 million tons, up 3.1%, including a strong 5% increase in aquaculture.

Alongside production growth, AFF trade continued to deliver positive results, supported by the effective utilization of free trade agreements and market diversification efforts. Total export turnover in the first five months reached USD 30.69 billion, up 9.2%, while imports reached USD 22.28 billion, up 12.6%, resulting in a trade surplus of USD 8.41 billion.

Notably, many commodity groups recorded strong growth, including seafood, up 10.6%; forestry products, up 4.5%; and livestock products, up 43.2%.

In terms of export markets, exports to China rose by 28.4%, while exports to the EU and Japan increased by 4.2% and 3.5%, respectively. However, exports to the U.S. slightly decreased by 3.6%. These figures indicate that export performance maintained positive momentum despite varying trends across markets.

However, amid ongoing global economic uncertainties, intensifying competitive pressures, and increasingly stringent standards, the agro-forestry-fishery sector will need to implement coordinated solutions to sustain its growth momentum.

Accelerating institutional completion and proactive adaptation to sustain growth

Building on the results achieved, leaders of the Department of Planning and Finance stated that the agriculture and environment sector will continue to implement coordinated solutions and tasks aimed at enhancing production efficiency and strengthening competitiveness.

First and foremost, institutional and policy completion has been identified as a key breakthrough. The sector will focus on reviewing and addressing bottlenecks in policy implementation, particularly those related to environmental protection and resource use, while also advancing the development of a national environmental database.

At the same time, administrative reform efforts will continue to be intensified with a focus on streamlining procedures and improving efficiency, thereby creating more favorable conditions for citizens and businesses. Decentralization will be accompanied by accountability for agency leaders, aiming to enhance implementation capacity at all levels.

Another key task is promoting digital transformation and the application of science and technology in production. The sector sets a goal of completing the national land database in 2026, contributing to more effective resource management and utilization.

In parallel, the sector will proactively develop response scenarios for natural disasters, disease outbreaks, and market fluctuations. Particular attention will be given to disease control, ensuring the safety of irrigation infrastructure, and comprehensively addressing shortcomings related to illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

In addition, sectoral restructuring toward a green, ecological, and sustainable model will continue to be accelerated, alongside efforts to enhance product quality, increase added value, and ensure food safety. Expanding export markets, maximizing opportunities under free trade agreements, and developing traceability systems will also remain important solutions.

"With a stable production foundation and flexible management measures, the agriculture and environment sector is gradually adapting to the new context and moving toward its goal of sustainable growth in 2026 and the coming years," Deputy Director General of the Department of Planning and Finance Nguyen Gia Long affirmed.