Vietnam’s farm exports post strong surplus

Vietnam’s agro-forestry-fishery sector recorded exports worth USD 56.3 billion in the first nine months of 2026. This marked a 7.8% increase compared with the same period a year earlier, highlighting steady external demand for Vietnamese agricultural and related products. The performance underscores the sector’s role as a significant contributor to the country’s export base during this period.

The combination of agriculture, forestry and fishery products in a single export basket reflects Vietnam’s diversified primary sector. Within that combined category, rising shipments point to competitive positioning across multiple product groups rather than reliance on a single commodity. The figures suggest that producers were able to maintain or expand market access in key overseas destinations through the first three quarters of the year.

Alongside higher export values, agro-forestry-fishery activities generated a sizable trade surplus. The sector’s surplus reached USD 16.9 billion in the first nine months of 2026, representing a year-on-year increase of 7.4%. This indicates that export growth outpaced imports for these products, improving the net contribution of the sector to Vietnam’s external balances.

A rising surplus in this export segment provides additional support for overall trade conditions. With exports growing faster than imports, the sector helps offset deficits that may arise in other parts of the economy. The surplus also implies that domestic production has been sufficient not only to meet local needs but also to sustain expanding sales abroad.

The confirmed gains in agro-forestry-fishery exports and surplus come against the backdrop of widespread reports of strong economic momentum in Vietnam. While detailed macroeconomic aggregates fall outside the verified data set here, the strength of this sector aligns with narratives of rising export activity more broadly. It highlights how primary industries continue to underpin external earnings during a period of elevated growth.

As agro-forestry-fishery products deliver higher revenues and a larger net surplus, they enhance the resilience of Vietnam’s trade position. This performance can support foreign exchange earnings, rural incomes and investment capacity within the sector. The confirmed numbers show that, within the wider economy, primary exports remain a central pillar of Vietnam’s current expansion.