Vietnamese people consume the world's fourth largest pork
At the Conference on Opportunities, challenges and solutions for sustainable development of the pig farming industry held on April 3, a representative of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine said that at the end of the first quarter of 2025, the total herd of 31.8 million pigs (down more than 200,000 pigs compared to January 1, 2025 (down 0.63%), but up 3.2% over the same period in 2024.
Vietnam's pork consumption has tended to increase in recent years. Specifically: In 2021, about 30 kg/person/year, in 2022 about 32 kg/person/year, in 2023 about 33.8 kg/person/year, in 2024, it was estimated at 37.04 kg/person/year (calculated according to kg of sawn meat/person/year). Vietnam ranks 4th in consuming the world's largest pork.
Regarding pork prices, in the first quarter of 2025, due to the high demand for pork in the market during the Lunar New Year from January 2025. Until March 2025, there are times when the price of imported and exported live pigs reaches over 80,000 VND/kg. However, this price has only lasted for a short time and has now gradually decreased.
The reason given by the Department is due to the African swine cholera, the tightening of smuggled goods, many localities throughout the country have reviewed and planned to relocate or stop operating livestock farms that are not eligible for breeding. In addition, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary also said that the increasing demand for pork is also one of the reasons why the price of pork increases.
"In 2023, Vietnam ranked 6th in the world in pork consumption, while in 2024, the demand for pork consumption increased by 2 ranks and ranked 4th in the world," the Department explained.
Forecast of pig prices
According to Mr. Le Thanh Hoa, Deputy Director, Department of Quality, Processing and Market Development, the price of live pigs is expected to remain high. However, it is unlikely to increase dramatically if disease prevention is well implemented. In addition, the market can be regulated by the amount of imported pork (currently imported mainly from Russia, Brazil, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, etc.).
"Vietnam's export turnover of processed pork products is still limited, mainly processed pork and frozen whole pork. Imports with a low turnover (about 292 thousand tons in 2024, reaching 460 million USD), so the domestic market is expected to be less affected because the impact factor from the international pork market has not had many fluctuations," Mr. Hoa added.
In the coming time, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine will continue to invest in Science and Technology, innovation to increase productivity, quality, increase value, reduce costs to improve competitiveness. In particular, developing the national brand of native pigs with different quality and value. Deploy digital transformation, direct localities to monitor and monitor the implementation of accurate livestock declaration as a basis for market and product planning and forecasting.
At the same time, strengthen the building of a new chain linkage, replicate the model of a chain linkage of livestock production - slaughter/processing/deep processing - distribution to help the industry develop towards efficiency and sustainability.
