{"id":54,"date":"2026-02-15T19:57:14","date_gmt":"2026-02-15T10:57:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vietnam-agri.com\/?p=54"},"modified":"2026-06-10T00:29:43","modified_gmt":"2026-06-09T15:29:43","slug":"vietnam-agri-strategy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vietnam-agri.com\/en\/vietnam-agri\/vietnam-agri-strategy\/","title":{"rendered":"Vietnam Produce Guide | with a rice, coffee, and shrimp comparison table"},"content":{"rendered":"

The diversity of Vietnam's produce is among the best in Southeast Asia. Rice, coffee, shrimp, pepper, and cashew nuts: there are not many agricultural countries that rank at the top of the world across this many different items.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

A comparison of Vietnam's main products<\/h2>\n

First, check the big picture in the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Items<\/th>\nMain growing regions<\/th>\nWorld ranking<\/th>\nMain export destinations<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Rice<\/td>\nMekong Delta<\/td>\nThird in export volume<\/td>\nthe Philippines, China, Africa<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Coffee (Robusta)<\/td>\nthe Central Highlands (Dak Lak Province)<\/td>\nSecond in export volume<\/td>\nEU, United States, Japan<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Black pepper<\/td>\nCentral Highlands<\/td>\nFirst in production<\/td>\nIndia, the United States, the EU<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cashew nuts<\/td>\nSouthern provinces<\/td>\nFirst in processed exports<\/td>\nthe United States, the EU, China<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Shrimp<\/td>\nMekong Delta<\/td>\nSecond in export volume<\/td>\nJapan, the US, the EU<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pangasius (catfish)<\/td>\nMekong Delta<\/td>\nFirst in export volume<\/td>\nthe EU, the United States, China<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dragon fruit<\/td>\nBinh Thuan Province and others<\/td>\nFirst in export volume<\/td>\nChina, the EU<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/p>\n

A country that ranks world-class across this many items is rare. It is the result of items naturally diverging because climate and soil differ from region to region.<\/p>\n

Structural features of Vietnamese agriculture<\/h2>\n

Vietnam is an agricultural power with a population of about 100 million. Even as industrialization advances, about 30% of the working population is engaged in agriculture-related work. Agriculture, forestry, and fisheries make up about 12% of GDP, yet they support the foundation of the country in both food security and exports.<\/p>\n

Since the Doi Moi policy of 1986, a shift from collective farming to individual farmers took place and productivity rose sharply. After that, coffee, pepper, and seafood grew one after another into major export items.<\/p>\n

There are, however, three structural weaknesses.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. An average cultivated area of about 0.3 to 0.5 ha<\/strong>: wide variation in quality, a disadvantage in price negotiations<\/li>\n
  2. Exports centered on primary products<\/strong>: because goods are shipped without processing, added value flows to the overseas side<\/li>\n
  3. Items diverge by region<\/strong>: rice in the Mekong Delta, coffee and pepper in the Central Highlands, and so on<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    <\/p>\n

    Source: compiled from ONE-VALUE, 'Vietnam's Agriculture: The Current Situation and the Potential of Future Foreign Investment' (updated June 2025)<\/p>\n

    Rice and shrimp production in the Mekong Delta<\/h2>\n

    The Mekong Delta in the south is the country's largest granary. It accounts for about half of domestic rice output and nearly 90% of export rice. Without this region, where two to three crops a year are possible, Vietnam's rice exports would not hold together.<\/p>\n

    Honestly, the situation has been changing in recent years. Because of rising seas and upstream dams, saltwater increasingly travels inland during the dry season, and more farmers can no longer survive on 'rice alone.'<\/p>\n

    As a result, combined 'rice plus shrimp' operations are spreading rapidly. The model of converting paddies where salt damage has made rice farming difficult into aquaculture ponds and raising shrimp is a practical answer to environmental change.<\/p>\n

    Shrimp ranks third in the world for production and second for export volume. It is exported in large volumes to Japan, the EU, and the United States, and the acquisition of international certifications such as GlobalG.A.P. is also advancing.<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    Source: compiled from ONE-VALUE, 'Vietnam's Agriculture: The Current Situation and the Potential of Future Foreign Investment' (updated June 2025)<\/p>\n

    Coffee, pepper, and cashew nuts in the Central Highlands<\/h2>\n

    The Central Highlands (including Dak Lak Province) is Vietnam's largest producing region for export items.<\/p>\n

    One thing to note here is that Vietnamese coffee is centered on the 'Robusta variety.' It is entirely different from Arabica: strongly bitter and high in caffeine, with demand around the world as a raw material for espresso and instant coffee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    Items<\/th>\nPosition in the world<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
    Coffee<\/td>\nSecond in the world for export volume<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Black pepper<\/td>\nFirst in the world for production<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Cashew nuts<\/td>\nFirst in the world for processed exports<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    Volcanic soil and the climate at 500 to 800 m elevation suit these crops, and a region that ranks world-class in all three items is rare even globally.<\/p>\n

    That said, farmers heavily dependent on coffee alone are hit immediately when international prices fall. Combining multiple items and moving into processing has become the next challenge.<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    Source: compiled from ONE-VALUE, 'Vietnam's Agriculture: The Current Situation and the Potential of Future Foreign Investment' (updated June 2025)<\/p>\n

    Aquaculture: the shrimp and pangasius value chain<\/h2>\n

    Aquaculture is a national strategic industry on a par with agriculture.<\/p>\n

    In the Mekong Delta, shrimp and pangasius (catfish) are farmed on a large scale. The chain from aquaculture pond to processing plant to export port is fully developed, shipping large volumes of frozen processed goods to Japan, the EU, and the United States.<\/p>\n

    Pangasius ranks first in the world for export volume. It is not widely known, but it is a very important item as white-fish fillet for the EU.<\/p>\n

    On the quality-control side, monitoring of pesticide and antibiotic residues and the acquisition of international certification are advancing. In response to tighter regulations in importing countries, traceability measures are also accelerating.<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    Source: compiled from ONE-VALUE, 'Vietnam's Agriculture: The Current Situation and the Potential of Future Foreign Investment' (updated June 2025)<\/p>\n

    Structural challenges: dependence on middlemen and a lack of processing capacity<\/h2>\n

    Frankly, the biggest problem in Vietnamese agriculture is that 'farmers cannot set prices.'<\/p>\n

    Because smallholders are scattered, collection brokers hold the power to set prices. Farmers have no choice but to sell individually, and because they cannot secure bulk volume, they have no bargaining power. Organized aggregation like Japan's agricultural cooperatives is weak, and the structure makes it hard for farm incomes to rise.<\/p>\n

    Processing infrastructure is also still developing. Secondary processing such as drying, milling, and extraction is limited, and large quantities of off-spec produce and surplus goods are discarded. Cases where items that were carefully grown cannot reach the market because of appearance issues are endless.<\/p>\n

    In recent years, smart agriculture such as drone-based pest control and IoT irrigation has begun at some large farms. Adoption among the great majority of smallholders is limited, however, and labor-centered farming continues.<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    Source: compiled from ONE-VALUE, 'Vietnam's Agriculture: The Current Situation and the Potential of Future Foreign Investment' (updated June 2025)<\/p>\n

    Entry opportunities for Japanese companies: room for higher value-added<\/h2>\n

    This is the fork in the road, and the key point for Japanese companies.<\/p>\n

    To sum up the features of Vietnam's produce: 'strong raw-material supply capacity,' 'weak processing,' and 'large volumes of off-spec goods.' These three come together.<\/p>\n

    This is an outstanding fit with the Japanese-style business model of 'processing to add value.'<\/p>\n

    To give concrete examples:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • Turn off-spec dragon fruit into powder and sell it as a health-food ingredient<\/li>\n
    • Extract antioxidant compounds from coffee cherry (the discarded part) for use as a cosmetics ingredient<\/li>\n
    • Dry off-spec shrimp and bring it to the Japanese market as a stock (dashi) ingredient<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      There is still plenty of room to expand into dried vegetables, fruit powders, and functional ingredients. It is also drawing attention as a food-loss business that can reduce waste and raise farm incomes at the same time.<\/p>\n

      <\/p>\n

      <\/p>\n

      Source: compiled from ONE-VALUE, 'Vietnam's Agriculture: The Current Situation and the Potential of Future Foreign Investment' (updated June 2025)<\/p>\n

      Summary: the future of Vietnam's produce<\/h2>\n

      Vietnam is an agricultural power that, with diverse products such as rice, coffee, shrimp, pepper, and cashew nuts, supports several world markets at once.<\/p>\n

      At the same time, the shift from 'raw-material supplier' to 'an agricultural nation with processing and brands' is only halfway there. Whether it can overcome environmental change, dependence on middlemen, and weak processing infrastructure will be the fork in the road ahead.<\/p>\n

      For Japanese companies, there is great room to contribute in three areas: technology transfer, building processing infrastructure, and support for higher value-added. If Vietnam's abundant produce is combined with Japanese technology, the potential to open new markets is high.<\/p>\n

      Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n

      Q1. What are Vietnam's main products?<\/strong>
      \nRice, coffee, shrimp, black pepper, cashew nuts, and pangasius are the main items. Black pepper in particular ranks first in the world for production and coffee second for export volume, so Vietnam ranks world-class across several items.<\/p>\n

      Q2. Is Vietnamese coffee the Arabica variety?<\/strong>
      \nMost of it is Robusta. It comes from the volcanic soil of the Central Highlands (Dak Lak Province) and is characterized by strong bitterness and a high caffeine content. It is exported around the world as a raw material for espresso and instant coffee.<\/p>\n

      Q3. In which region is Vietnam's rice produced?<\/strong>
      \nThe Mekong Delta in the south is the center. About half of domestic output and nearly 90% of export rice are produced here. Two to three crops a year are possible, and it boasts some of the world's highest land productivity.<\/p>\n

      Q4. What is the biggest challenge in Vietnamese agriculture?<\/strong>
      \nDependence on middlemen (brokers) and weak processing infrastructure. Because smallholders are scattered, they have no bargaining power on price, and the structure makes it hard for farm incomes to rise. The large-scale disposal of off-spec produce is also a serious problem.<\/p>\n

      Q5. What are the advantages for a Japanese company entering Vietnamese agriculture?<\/strong>
      \nThe biggest advantage is that a structure with strong raw-material supply but weak processing is a good fit for the Japanese style of high-value-added processing business. There is still plenty of room to reduce waste and create value at the same time, through drying, powdering, and turning off-spec goods into extraction materials.<\/p>\n

      Q6. What will happen to agriculture in the Mekong Delta from here?<\/strong>
      \nAs salt damage worsens, the shift from rice farming to combined 'rice plus shrimp' operations and fruit-tree cultivation is accelerating. The introduction of salt-tolerant varieties is also advancing, but a new problem of land subsidence from dependence on groundwater has emerged, and building a sustainable farming model is an urgent task.<\/p>\n

      Q7. Tell me about the current state of Vietnam's shrimp exports.<\/strong>
      \nIt ranks third in the world for production and second for export volume, with Japan, the EU, and the United States as the main destinations. The acquisition of international certifications such as GlobalG.A.P. is progressing, and quality control and traceability measures are accelerating. Centered on the Mekong Delta, it is shipped in large volumes as frozen processed goods.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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