Vietnam’s billion-dollar livestock export goal no longer a distant dream: former official

The 10th International Livestock, Dairy, Meat Processing and Aquaculture Exposition, known as ILDEX Vietnam 2026, one of the major trade exhibitions for the livestock and agri-food industries, opened in Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesday.

The event, running through Saturday, has attracted more than 230 companies from 25 countries and territories.

Speaking at the exhibition, Phung Duc Tien, former Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment, said Vietnam’s livestock sector had made steady progress in recent years, with exports of livestock products reaching increasingly higher values.

In the first four months of 2026, exports of livestock products totaled US$245 million, up 45.5 percent from the same period last year.

Exports of milk and dairy products exceeded $62 million, more than doubling year on year, while exports of meat, meat by-products, and edible animal offal rose 16.5 percent to $73.5 million.

“With the current growth momentum, livestock exports could reach between $700 million and $750 million in 2026 and move toward the $1 billion mark the following year,” Tien said.

“This was once considered an ambitious dream, but Vietnam is now not only meeting demand for a population of 100 million people and 18-20 million tourists annually, but it is also aiming for global exports,” he added.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Wiraka Moodhitaporn, Thailand’s consul general in Ho Chi Minh City and vice-president of VNU Asia Pacific, a global exhibition organizer, said Vietnam had established itself over the past decade as a strategic hub for Southeast Asia’s agri-food industry.

She said ILDEX Vietnam had played a practical role in that development by becoming a trusted platform for international business connections.

“I am pleased that today’s exhibition is part of activities promoting cooperation between Thailand and Vietnam as the two countries mark 50 years of diplomatic relations,” Moodhitaporn said.

“We will continue connecting global businesses with local partners to promote a smarter and more sustainable agriculture and food industry,” she added.

Among the more than 230 exhibitors participating this year are companies and brands from major livestock-producing regions, including China, North America, the European Union, and South Korea.

Businesses showcased a range of advanced technologies and products related to livestock farming, wastewater and waste treatment, biosecurity, and food processing in an effort to attract potential partners.

New programs, models introduced

This year’s event focuses on integrated solutions across the agricultural value chain, ranging from animal feed and aquaculture to farming technologies, biosecurity, and environmental management systems.

Major companies such as C.P. Vietnam introduced integrated 3F business models (Feed, Farm, and Food), aimed at improving efficiency and traceability across the supply chain.

In addition to the exhibition space, a series of technical seminars jointly organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and industry associations will provide a forum for experts to discuss green agriculture and innovation.