Despite facing economic crises, geopolitical conflicts, the Covid-19 pandemic, and tariff barriers, Vietnam’s agricultural export revenue continues to surge. Recently, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment reaffirmed its goal of achieving over 4% growth and reaching USD 70 billion in agricultural, forestry, and fishery exports in 2025.

With over 100 million tons of agricultural, forestry, and seafood products exported annually, acting Minister Tran Duc Thang stated that the country should aim for USD 80-90 billion, even USD 100 billion, in export value.

Vietnam ranks second globally as premium rice reaches elite markets

In 1989, Vietnam exported rice for the first time, sending 1.4 million tons abroad and earning USD 322 million. The following year, exports jumped to 4.6 million tons and exceeded USD 1 billion, officially establishing Vietnam as a major rice exporter.

Since 2000, rice export revenue has steadily increased, surpassing the USD 2 billion, USD 3 billion, and USD 4 billion marks, reaching USD 5.7 billion in 2024.

Vietnam's rice sector set historic records in both volume and value in 2024, holding its position as the world’s third-largest exporter with 9 million tons, behind India (17 million tons) and Thailand (9.3 million tons).

As of the end of July this year, Vietnam exported 5.5 million tons of rice worth USD 2.8 billion, surpassing Thailand (4.3 million tons, USD 2.7 billion) to become the world’s second-largest rice exporter.

Notably, after years of being associated with low quality and low prices, Vietnamese rice has been upgraded significantly in recent years, earning the reputation of being the most expensive rice on the global market.

In 2019 and 2023, Vietnam’s ST25 rice was named “World’s Best Rice.” Bags branded “Vietnam Rice” now proudly appear on the shelves of major supermarket chains worldwide, including in demanding markets like Japan, South Korea, the United States, and Europe.

In June, Vietnam launched its “Green, Low-Emission Vietnamese Rice,” a pioneering product that no other country has produced. The first shipment was exported to Japan.

This special rice brand is part of the national plan to sustainably develop 1 million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice fields linked to green growth in the Mekong Delta by 2030. It marks not only a shift toward higher quality but also the beginning of a revolution in rice production, showcasing how Vietnam produces delicious, transparent, and environmentally responsible rice.

Vietnam becomes top global exporter of Robusta coffee

Like rice, Vietnamese coffee has climbed to a new level, with international roasters increasingly sourcing from Vietnam. Global buyers now rely heavily on Vietnamese supply.

"International buyers are flocking to us. Some weeks, we host multiple delegations daily, from Monday to Saturday," said Phan Minh Thong, Chairman of Phuc Sinh Group. In mid-2024, specialty coffee from Son La sold out instantly upon being introduced in Chicago. At the company’s factory, all 8,000 tons of coffee, equivalent to 400 containers, were sold out.

Robusta coffee, once considered cheap, has now become the highest-priced Robusta variety in the world.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Vietnam had approximately 718,000 hectares of coffee plantations in 2024, yielding 1.95 million tons - primarily Robusta. Export revenue reached USD 5.62 billion, exceeding all previous forecasts.

In just the first seven months of 2025, Vietnamese companies exported 1.06 million tons of coffee, generating nearly USD 6 billion - an unprecedented milestone for one of the country’s key agricultural exports.

The average export price of coffee over these seven months was estimated at USD 5,672.2 per ton, a 53.4% increase compared to the same period in 2024.

Vietnam remains among the top five coffee producers and exporters worldwide, ranking number one for Robusta coffee.

World’s largest “black gold” reserve secured with pepper exports

Following the same upward trend, Vietnam’s pepper exports brought in nearly USD 990 million, a 29.7% increase year-over-year. In 2024, the country exported nearly 250,000 tons of pepper worth USD 1.31 billion - the highest figure in eight years.

Vietnam maintains the world’s largest reserve of “black gold,” accounting for 40% of global production and 60% of global exports.

After more than a decade of cultivation and export, pepper has become a major agricultural sector. A global pepper price surge in 2015 saw prices reach VND 230 million per ton (approximately USD 9,600), equivalent to 6.5 taels of gold at the time. This led to Vietnamese pepper being dubbed “black gold” and becoming a billion-dollar export.

Since 2024, pepper prices have surged again, stabilizing at high levels and initiating a new cycle expected to last a decade. Prices are forecast to peak between VND 350-400 million per ton (USD 14,700-16,800).

Two decades leading global cashew exports

While cashew prices haven’t seen spikes like pepper or coffee, Vietnam’s cashew export revenue has steadily grown over the years.

In 2006, Vietnam’s cashew exports hit USD 520 million, making it the world’s top cashew exporter. By 2010, the industry surpassed USD 1 billion in revenue, joining agriculture’s “billion-dollar club.”

In 2024, Vietnamese firms exported over 723,800 tons of cashew nuts, earning USD 4.34 billion - a record high since Vietnam entered the global cashew market.

Vietnamese cashew accounts for about 80% of the global processed cashew kernel market. Key buyers include the US, Australia, China, and the Netherlands. In 2024 alone, the US spent nearly USD 1.2 billion on Vietnam’s highly nutritious cashews.

In the first seven months of 2025, cashew exports generated USD 2.8 billion.

Vietnam’s greatest competitive advantage in this sector is its world-leading processing technology, developed domestically. With around 500 processing companies and an annual capacity of 4 million tons of raw cashews, Vietnam’s products are now present in 90 countries and territories.

Third-largest seafood exporter globally and king of pangasius

According to the General Department of Customs, Vietnam’s seafood exports grew by double digits in the first seven months of 2025, reaching USD 6.08 billion.

Despite multiple challenges in 2024, seafood exports still closed the year with a strong performance at USD 10 billion. Vietnam now ranks third globally in seafood exports, following China and Norway.

Of this, shrimp exports contributed USD 4 billion, pangasius (tra fish) USD 2 billion, and tuna USD 1 billion.

Vietnam has held the number-one spot in pangasius exports for over two decades, turning a humble river fish into a global commodity.

Pangasius exports began modestly in 1997 with just USD 1.65 million but skyrocketed to a record USD 2.4 billion in 2022. In the first seven months of 2025, exports already reached USD 1.2 billion.

With improving raw material supply, enhanced product quality, and expanding markets, the seafood sector aims to surpass USD 10 billion in exports in 2025 and eventually reach USD 11 billion.

From traditional carpentry to billion-dollar wood industry

Originating from traditional carpentry villages, Vietnam’s wood industry has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past two decades.

In 2000, exports totaled only USD 219 million. By 2004, the figure exceeded USD 1 billion. By 2019, this grew more than tenfold to USD 11.3 billion, placing Vietnam among the world’s top five furniture exporters.

In 2024, despite hurdles like traceability issues, illegal timber concerns, anti-dumping investigations, and Typhoon Yagi, the wood and wood product sector earned a record USD 16.3 billion. Vietnam became the world’s second-largest exporter of high-value-added wooden furniture, trailing only China.

Vietnamese wood products are now sold in over 160 countries and territories. The five largest markets - the US, Japan, China, South Korea, and the EU - account for over 90% of total export revenue.

By the end of July 2025, exports of wood and wood products reached USD 9.64 billion, continuing to lead all agricultural sectors in export value.

With the global carbon credit market booming, the forestry sector is also preparing to commercialize forest-based carbon credits. Each year, Vietnam can generate 60-70 million tons of CO2 credits from its natural and planted forests. Previously, these carbon credits were sold to the World Bank at USD 5 per credit, bringing in approximately VND 1.25 trillion (around USD 52.5 million).

Tam An