Vietnam Launches New Soybean Crushing Line to Expand Capacity and Increase Imports
2026/04/29
According to a report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Vietnam has expanded its soybean crushing capacity by commissioning two new production lines in the northern and southern regions of the country.
Although domestic soybean cultivation remains limited, the Vietnam Oilseeds and Products Yearbook released on April 15 indicates that expansion is expected to boost domestic production of soybean meal and soybean oil. Consequently, soybean imports are forecast to rise to 3.2 million tonnes in the 2025/26 fiscal year and to 3.8 million tonnes in the 2026/27 fiscal year.
Demand for soybean meal in animal feed and aquaculture feed is projected to reach 7.4 million tonnes in the 2025/26 fiscal year and 7.8 million tonnes in the 2026/27 fiscal year, primarily driven by rising overall feed demand.
It is projected that Vietnam’s soybean acreage will decline to 25,000 hectares in the 2025/26 marketing year, with output expected to total 41,000 tonnes. The downward trend is forecast to continue into the 2026/27 marketing year, with acreage projected at 24,000 hectares and output at 40,000 tonnes.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture stated: “Farmers continue to shift toward more profitable crops, such as fruits and vegetables, because domestically produced soybeans remain less competitive than imported soybeans.”
According to Vietnamese customs data, as of December 31, 2025, the country had imported 2.61 million tonnes of soybeans, a 17.6% increase compared with the previous year.
Brazil is the largest supplier, accounting for 45.8% of total imports, followed by the United States at 43.5%. U.S. soybean imports increased by 23.8% year on year.
In the first two months of 2026, Vietnam’s soybean imports increased by 70% compared with the same period last year. Soybean food consumption is forecast at 550,000 tonnes for the 2025/26 fiscal year, rising to 570,000 tonnes in the 2026/27 fiscal year due to the continued growth of the foodservice and tourism sectors. The U.S. Department of Agriculture projects soybean feed consumption at 240,000 tonnes for the 2025/26 fiscal year, increasing to 260,000 tonnes in the 2026/27 fiscal year, in line with expectations of higher poultry and swine production and growing demand for animal feed.
