Vietnam’s meat imports in February totaled over US$373 million, a 40.5-percent increase from the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.

This brought the country’s meat imports in January-February to over $734 million, a 50.3-percent surge from the same period in 2024. 

India is the largest supplier of meat to Vietnam, followed by Russia, the U.S., Brazil, Canada, Poland, and the Netherlands, according to data from the General Department of Customs.

The average import price of pork was $2,672 per metric ton, up more than 20 percent year on year.

Meanwhile, in southern provinces, the price of live pigs ranged from VND75,000 ($2.95) to VND83,000 ($3.26) per kilogram, making imported meat significantly cheaper than domestic pork. 

In Ho Chi Minh City, pork prices have been rising daily, but weak purchasing power persists.

The price hike is attributed to supply shortages caused by the African swine fever outbreak that has impacted farmers and large businesses since last year. 

Experts, however, believe the short supply will be short-lived.

Conversely, chicken prices are falling sharply, with rates of VND43,000-79,000 ($1.69-3.1) per kilogram due to an oversupply and increased official imports.

In February, Vietnam exported $21.9 million worth of meat, down 8.8 percent year on year. 

Hong Kong is the largest market for Vietnam’s meat exports, with fresh, chilled, and frozen pork -- primarily suckling pigs and whole frozen pigs -- being the main products.

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