According to statistics from the General Department of Customs, soybean imports to Vietnam in April 2025 reached over 126,000 tons, worth over 56 million USD. The result is a decrease of nearly 42% in both volume and value compared to March.
In the first 4 months of the year, Vietnam has spent over 318 million USD to import more than 703,000 tons, a decrease of 7.8% in volume and 22% in value compared to the same period in 2024.
Regarding the import market, the United States is currently the largest supplier of soybeans to Vietnam, with over 414,000 tons, worth more than 186 million USD. This result marks a significant increase of 47% in volume and 19% in value compared to the same period last year. Notably, the price has also dropped sharply compared to the same period in 2024, down to 451 USD/ton, corresponding to a 19% decrease. Currently, the preferential import tax rate for soybean meal from the U.S. into Vietnam has been reduced from 1%–2% to 0%.
Vietnam imported over 703,000 tons of soybeans in 4 months.
In second place is Brazil with over 200,000 tons of soybeans, valued at more than 88 million USD. This is a sharp decrease of 51% in volume and 58% in value compared to the same period in 2024. Prices dropped by 14%, averaging 440 USD/ton.
Canada is the third-largest supplier to Vietnam, with over 58,000 tons, worth over 29 million USD, an increase of 71% in volume and 37% in value. The price decreased by 20% compared to the same period last year, equivalent to 501 USD/ton.
Currently, Vietnam is the third-largest importer of soybean meal and the ninth-largest importer of soybeans in the world.
Previously, in 2024, according to statistics from the General Department of Customs, Vietnam imported 2.22 million tons of soybeans, worth nearly 1.13 billion USD. This was an increase of over 19% in volume but a decrease of 3.6% in value and 19% in price compared to 2023.
Soybeans are not a common product on family dining tables, but they are a crucial raw material in animal feed production. Vietnam consumes 1.5 to 2 million tons of soybeans annually for this purpose.
In the context of rising pork prices, input costs (animal feed) have decreased thanks to the cooling of imported soybean prices, allowing farmers to enjoy a “double benefit”: good output and low input costs. This is a rare bright spot in the agricultural supply chain, which is always subject to many fluctuations.
Soybeans are also used as raw materials for producing cooking oil, functional foods, and even cosmetics. But in Vietnam, it is mainly used for the livestock industry and industrial food processing.
With the continued increase in consumption and domestic production meeting less than 15% of the demand, importing soybeans is not only a temporary solution but also part of the strategy to ensure food security and stabilize input prices in the livestock industry.