Vietnam’s 2026 feed-import basket is forecast to reach 26.7 million tonnes

Bottom line: The latest USDA Foreign Agricultural Service quarterly report (4 August 2026) forecasts Vietnam’s imported feed-ingredient basket at 26.705 million tonnes in calendar year 2026. In April, USDA had forecast 24.33 million tonnes. The increase comes mainly from corn. Corn and soybean meal together still make up more than 70% of projected imports.

An updated view of the import basket

Vietnam’s import dependency has not changed. For buyers, though, the mix matters more than the total. USDA FAS forecasts 2026 imports of 11.465 million tonnes of corn, 7.660 million tonnes of soybean meal, 3.100 million tonnes of feed wheat and 1.520 million tonnes of DDGS. Rice bran and broken rice (0.540 million tonnes), plant-based meals and bran (1.720 million tonnes) and other protein meals (0.700 million tonnes) make up the rest.

The new forecast is about 2.4 million tonnes above the April figure of 24.33 million tonnes. USDA says imported corn and wheat are in higher demand because of favourable prices. Local ingredients such as cassava and rice bran are in lower demand because they cost relatively more. Watch each ingredient separately. Relative prices and formulation economics can move demand between corn, feed wheat and DDGS, even when total feed production grows steadily.

Livestock and aquaculture support demand

USDA forecasts total feed demand of 30.45 million tonnes in 2026, up from an estimated 28.62 million tonnes in 2025. The 2026 figure is about 23.6 million tonnes of animal feed and 6.85 million tonnes of aquaculture feed. USDA raised its forecast in August and now expects 31.2 million tonnes in 2027. It expects livestock and aquaculture to keep growing, supported by domestic consumption and exports.

The risks are uneven. According to USDA’s April report, African swine fever affected most provinces in 2025 and led to the culling of about 1.2 million hogs. Herd rebuilding and biosecurity are therefore important for pig-feed demand. Aquaculture is a separate source of growth. Fish and shrimp production rose by 5% and 6% in 2025. Disease, environmental conditions and higher fingerling costs may slow restocking.

Origin and landed cost still decide competitiveness

Availability on paper does not mean the lowest delivered cost. Vietnam now buys corn from more origins. According to USDA’s April report, Argentina and Brazil supplied 47% and 35% of corn imports in 2025, and the United States supplied 13%. For DDGS, the United States supplied 72%, followed by Brazil and India.

Buyers should therefore compare quality by origin, freight, currency exposure, shipment timing and documents, not only FOB prices. Feed mills may also change formulations when DDGS or feed wheat is better value than corn. Vietnam has cut its most-favoured-nation tariff on corn under HS 1005.90.99 from 2% to zero. This supports flexible sourcing, subject to product classification and the applicable import requirements.

What this means for buyers

• Corn and soybean meal are still the core procurement exposure. Together they are so large that freight and currency moves matter commercially.
• Watch substitution closely. DDGS and feed wheat can replace part of corn demand when their nutrient value and landed price are favourable.
• Documents are part of supply security. Origin records, quality specifications and timely shipping documents can matter as much as the nominal price.
• Track demand by sector. African swine fever, poultry expansion and aquaculture exports may move at different speeds.

MANTA view

Treat Vietnam’s feed market as a portfolio of ingredients and origins, not as one import total. The most resilient buying strategy combines diversified supply, clear quality control and comparison on a delivered nutrient-value basis. This article updates our earlier overview, Vietnam remains a major importer of feed ingredients, with the latest 2026 basket and sector assumptions.

Sources

• USDA FAS, Vietnam: Grain and Feed Quarterly, 4 August 2026. Source of the 2026 import basket and feed demand figures.
• USDA FAS, Vietnam: Grain and Feed Annual, 15 April 2026. Source of the origin shares, tariff and animal-disease figures, and of the earlier 24.33 million tonne forecast.
• USDA FAS, Vietnam: Grain and Feed Quarterly, 2025 — earlier forecast, kept for comparison.

Forecasts can change as trade, disease, weather, policy and market conditions change.

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