Vietnamese livestock farmers squeezed by rising feed costs, weak meat and egg prices

The situation is further complicated by prolonged animal disease outbreaks and rising logistics costs, while feed suppliers warn of further price increases.

Feed costs climb as selling prices weaken

Farmers said animal feed producers had raised prices twice in just over a week, by a total of around VND500 per kilogram (US$0.02).

Since the beginning of 2026, pig and poultry feed prices have risen five or six times, by a total of about VND1,200 per kilogram ($0.05).

Feed suppliers attributed the increases to higher imported raw material prices and rising logistics costs amid elevated fuel prices, warning that further hikes were possible.

Following the latest price increases, feed for industrial broiler chickens and laying hens commonly costs more than VND11,000 per kilogram ($0.43), while feed for finishing pigs costs around VND11,500 ($0.45) per kilogram and starter feed for piglets exceeds VND40,000 ($1.55) per kilogram.

Meanwhile, selling prices for pigs, chickens and eggs have remained low.

In southern Vietnam, live pigs were selling for VND49,000-55,000 per kilogram ($1.90-$2.14), down VND5,000-8,000 ($0.19-$0.31) from favorable levels in August and September and as much as VND30,000 ($1.16) below last year's peak of VND80,000 ($3.11), farmers said.

Tran Van Dinh, a pig farmer in Dong Nai City, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) online newspaper on Saturday that production costs ranged from VND54,000 to VND58,000 ($2.10-$2.25) per kilogram, depending on the farm.

He said 70-80 percent of pig farmers were suffering heavy losses, with only a small number of large companies able to break even by producing their own breeding stock and feed and achieving high productivity.

The continued spread of African swine fever posed an additional risk to producers, he warned.

As for poultry, industrial white-feathered broiler chickens were selling for VND26,000-30,000 ($1.01-$1.16) per kilogram, leaving most farmers in the red as production costs had reached around VND29,000 ($1.13) per kilogram and could rise further if feed prices continued to climb.

Colored-feathered chickens were also selling at low prices of VND38,000-45,000 ($1.48-$1.75) per kilogram, depending on the type.

Farm-gate prices for industrial eggs averaged VND1,650 per egg ($0.064), down VND100-150 ($0.004-$0.006) from favorable levels in August and September and VND1,100 ($0.04) below last year's peak.

With production costs at around VND1,750 per egg ($0.068), farmers were selling eggs below cost.

Farmers consider cutting production

Nguyen Thi Lac, a Ho Chi Minh City farmer who has raised livestock under contract for major companies for years, said she had stayed in business by accepting slim profit margins in exchange for greater stability.

Under such arrangements, companies supply breeding stock and feed and guarantee outlets for the products, but farmers can still lose money if productivity is low or disease strikes.

Small-scale farmers and those outside integrated supply chains are particularly vulnerable to market fluctuations, she said.

Nguyen Van Khoa, a Dong Nai farmer whose farm has more than 185,000 laying hens, said persistently low egg prices had caused substantial losses.

Farm-gate egg prices reached VND2,800 per egg ($0.11) at times last year, but have not exceeded VND2,000 ($0.08) since the beginning of 2026 and stayed below VND1,400 ($0.05) for an extended period.

The average price since the beginning of the year has been below VND1,600 per egg ($0.06), prompting Khoa to consider reducing his flock to keep the business afloat.

Nguyen Kim Doan, vice chairman of the Dong Nai Livestock Association, said the province's pig herd had exceeded four million head following an administrative merger, but could shrink substantially as large companies cut their herds and small farms suspend operations.

Prolonged African swine fever outbreaks, falling live pig prices, rising production costs, higher bank interest rates and increased logistics expenses had eroded farmers' confidence, particularly among small-scale operators heavily dependent on purchased breeding stock and feed, Doan said.

He warned that the years when pig farming was highly profitable might be over for many producers.

Truong Chi Thien, general director of Vinh Thanh Dat, a company involved in producing, purchasing and distributing poultry eggs, also said the domestic livestock industry faced greater risks and difficulties than in previous years.

Livestock output grows, but industry faces sustainability risks

Despite mounting pressure on farmers, Vietnam's livestock output has continued to grow.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment's latest report, the country's pig herd was estimated to have grown 5.4 percent year on year as of the end of September 2026, while its poultry flock increased 3.1 percent.

Poultry meat production reached an estimated 2.02 million metric tons, up 5.3 percent year on year, while egg output totaled nearly 15.71 billion, an increase of 1.9 percent.

However, experts warned that prolonged difficulties could undermine the industry's sustainability and lead more producers to scale back operations, potentially causing the output of several livestock products to decline sharply in the coming months.