2026 is identified as a pivotal year in achieving the goals of the 2026-2030 period, with the target of agricultural, forestry, and fisheries export turnover reaching 73-74 billion USD.

According to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Phung Duc Tien, building on the achievements of 2025 and in response to the demands of the new development phase, 2026 is identified as a pivotal year for achieving the goals of the 2026-2030 period, with the target of agricultural, forestry, and fisheries export turnover reaching 73-74 billion USD. This requires the industry to continue to steadfastly pursue the orientation of market opening and promoting effective exports.

Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien noted that 2026 is predicted to be even more challenging than 2025. However, the sector has a wealth of experience spanning over 40 years of reform, particularly the restructuring of agricultural production in recent years, which has created a solid foundation.

The industry has adapted better to the international market and is gradually shifting its market focus. In addition to traditional markets, exports to Europe and Africa have seen significant growth. These are very promising markets, alongside Asian markets and niche markets. The Middle East still has considerable potential for development.

Despite the US imposing retaliatory tariffs, thanks to the restructuring of production, the proactive approach of businesses in trade promotion, production organization, and the systematic development of raw material areas, the agricultural sector has a solid foundation to strive for exports of 73-74 billion USD in 2026, Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien shared.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, in 2026, difficulties and challenges will continue to increase, especially the impacts of climate change; resource depletion, environmental pollution and biodiversity degradation, directly affecting food security and people's livelihoods. In the context of increasingly comprehensive management requirements, implementing international commitments on emission reduction, green growth, nature conservation and the transition to low-emission agricultural models places significant pressure on resources and management capacity.

In response to this need, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment continues to strengthen resource management, protect the environment, and enhance resilience to climate change; effectively utilize land, water, forest, and biodiversity resources to serve sustainable agricultural development and the socio-economic development of the country.

To create a breakthrough in value, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment will focus on several groups of solutions along the "raw material area - standards - processing - logistics - market" chain to create a breakthrough in value.

This involves standardizing raw material areas according to "market demands." This includes expanding the registration of planting/farming areas, managing input quality, ensuring food safety, and ensuring traceability; organizing production according to standards (GAP, organic, sustainable), and reducing the risk of warnings and returns.

The industry is promoting deep processing and product diversification. Priority is given to investing in processing, preservation, and packaging technologies; developing refined and convenient products; and utilizing by-products to create new value chains (feed, biomaterials, extracts, etc.).

To reduce logistics costs and increase value margins, it is necessary to develop cold storage facilities, cold chains, and regional logistics centers; optimize transportation and border crossings/ports; and standardize digital processes to shorten customs clearance times and reduce compliance costs. In particular, the industry needs to upgrade its market access capacity and national brand. This involves strengthening negotiations to open markets, addressing technical barriers; forecasting markets and providing early warnings of technical barriers to enable businesses to proactively respond. Alongside this, it requires building industry brands, geographical indications, segmented marketing; and a strong shift from selling "raw materials" to selling "products with stories and standards."

Another key focus is the green transformation of the industry to enter the high-end segment. This involves measuring/reducing carbon footprints, achieving sustainability certifications, and promoting circular economy models and low-emission production to access premium markets and retail chains.

In 2025, the global situation is complex, facing many difficulties and challenges. Increased trade tensions, along with stricter requirements for traceability and food safety regulations in agricultural exports, are impacting economic growth and development. Domestically, natural disasters and extreme weather events are occurring erratically, causing significant losses in terms of human lives, property, and agricultural production.

In this context, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has closely followed the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's laws and regulations, and the demands of reality; directing and managing "proactively, decisively, flexibly, synchronously, and with a focus on key areas from the very first days and months of 2025". As a result, crop production, livestock farming, and aquaculture have remained stable and continued to develop, ensuring the supply of essential foodstuffs (rice, fruit, meat, fresh milk, poultry eggs, seafood, etc.) to meet domestic consumption needs, contributing to ensuring national food security and promoting exports.

The entire sector has completed and exceeded all 9 targets assigned by the Government; in particular, sector growth reached 3.78%; total export turnover of agricultural, forestry and fishery products reached 70.09 billion USD, an increase of 12% compared to the previous year. Social and environmental indicators continued to show significant improvement.

Source: VTV