Bottom line: Vietnam’s imported feed-ingredient basket is forecast to reach 24.33 million tonnes in calendar year 2026, according to the latest USDA Foreign Agricultural Service assessment published in April 2026. This updates the earlier estimate of 23.98 million tonnes and provides a clearer view of where demand is concentrated: corn and soybean meal together account for more than 70% of projected imports.
An updated view of the import basket
The headline import-dependency story remains unchanged, but the composition matters more for buyers than the total alone. USDA FAS forecasts 2026 imports of 9.713 million tonnes of corn, 7.400 million tonnes of soybean meal, 2.615 million tonnes of feed wheat and 1.572 million tonnes of DDGS. Rice bran, plant-based meals and other protein meals complete the basket.
| Feed ingredient | 2026 forecast |
|---|---|
| Corn | 9.713 million tonnes |
| Soybean meal | 7.400 million tonnes |
| Feed wheat | 2.615 million tonnes |
| DDGS | 1.572 million tonnes |
| Total imported ingredients | 24.330 million tonnes |
The new forecast is slightly above the earlier 23.975-million-tonne estimate. The change is not large enough to alter the structural picture, but it reinforces the need to monitor each ingredient separately. Relative prices and formulation economics can shift demand between corn, feed wheat and DDGS even when total feed production follows a steady path.
Livestock and aquaculture support demand
Total feed demand is forecast at 29.5 million tonnes in 2026, comprising approximately 22.77 million tonnes of animal feed and 6.73 million tonnes of aquaculture feed. USDA expects continued livestock and aquaculture growth, supported by domestic consumption and exports.
Risks remain uneven. African swine fever affected most provinces in 2025 and led to the culling of about 1.2 million hogs, making herd rebuilding and biosecurity important variables for pig-feed demand. Aquaculture provides a separate source of growth: fish and shrimp production increased by 5% and 6% respectively in 2025, although disease, environmental conditions and higher fingerling costs may affect the pace of restocking.
Origin and landed cost still determine competitiveness
Headline availability does not automatically translate into the lowest delivered cost. Vietnam’s corn supply has become more diversified: Argentina and Brazil accounted for 47% and 35% of 2025 corn imports, while the United States reached 13%. For DDGS, the United States supplied 72%, followed by Brazil and India.
Buyers therefore need to compare origin-specific quality, freight, currency exposure, shipment timing and documentation—not only FOB prices. Feed mills may also adjust formulations when DDGS or feed wheat offers better value than corn. The reduction of Vietnam’s most-favoured-nation tariff on corn under HS 1005.90.99 from 2% to zero further supports flexible sourcing, subject to product classification and applicable import requirements.
What this means for buyers
- Corn and soybean meal remain the core procurement exposure. Their combined scale makes freight and currency movements commercially significant.
- Substitution requires active monitoring. DDGS and feed wheat can offset part of corn demand when nutrient value and landed price are favourable.
- Documentation is part of supply security. Origin records, quality specifications and timely shipping documents can be as important as nominal price.
- Demand should be tracked by sector. ASF conditions, poultry expansion and aquaculture exports may move at different speeds.
MANTA view
Vietnam’s feed market should be treated as a portfolio of ingredients and origins rather than one import total. The most resilient procurement strategy combines diversified supply, transparent 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 Annual, 15 April 2026.
- USDA FAS, Vietnam: Grain and Feed Quarterly, 2025 — earlier forecast used for comparison.
Forecasts are subject to revision as trade, disease, weather, policy and market conditions change.