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Vietnam offers abundant opportunities for exporting consumer-oriented products, despite the challenges of recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and dealing with high inflation. The Vietnamese economy is poised for significant expansion in the coming decades. With a burgeoning population and a growing middle class, Vietnamese consumers are becoming more discerning about the origin and composition of their food.

This report provides an unofficial translation of Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) Circular 04/2024 dated April 1, 2024. This Circular amends and supplements existing Circulars concerning the quarantine of terrestrial animals and their products, and it will enter into force on May 16, 2024.

Vietnam’s cotton imports for marketing year 2024/25 (MY 2024/25) are forecast at 6.8 million bales, up 3 percent over MY 2023/24 based on an expected recovery in global demand for textiles and garments by mid-2024.

In 2023, feed demand was low due to weak demand in Europe and the United States for Vietnamese produced aquaculture products. Post expects aquaculture and livestock production to rebound in the in MY 2024/25 increasing overall feed demand and as a result also increasing corn consumption. As domestic corn production remains uncompetitive with foreign imports, corn imports are forecast to grow Wheat imports are forecast to decline due to market volatility.

Vietnam’s food processing industry comprises some 11,000 companies, valued at $73.8 billion in 2023. Growth in 2023 was 6.1%, down from a blistering 8.8% in 2021 and 2022.

Vietnam’s economy is on the path to recovery. Post revises Vietnam’s MY2022/23 soybean meal consumption down to 5.65 MMT due to lower aquaculture feed consumption and forecasts an increase to 5.85 MMT in MY 2023/24.

On February 2, 2024, Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) issued Circular 01/2024/TT-BNNPTNT, announcing the List of Harmonized System (HS) codes for Goods under MARD's state management and the List of Imported and Exported Goods subject to Specialized Inspections in the agricultural sector.

On January 30, 2024, Vietnam notified a draft Circular concerning the quarantine of terrestrial animals and their products to the World Trade Organization (WTO).

On December 30, 2023, Vietnam's Ministry of Health (MOH) released Circular 29/2023, which provides guidelines for Nutritional Labeling on Food Products.

This report serves as a practical guide for U.S. exporters wishing to initiate or increase exports of U.S. consumer-oriented and seafood products to Vietnam. It provides an overview of the market potential, practical tips, consumer preferences and trends, food standards and regulations, import and inspection procedures, and useful contacts.

Vietnam’s Ministry of Health (MOH) issued Circular 17/2023 amending several regulations on food additives, flavors, and processing aids.

Post forecasts Vietnam’s cotton imports for marketing year 2023/24 (MY2023/24) at 6.7 million bales based on cotton-yarn exports over the past six months. MY2022/23 cotton imports are estimated at 6.46 million bales, valued at $3.6 billion, according...