Vietnam has expanded its soyabean crushing capacity by launching two new lines in the north and south of the country, according to a US Department of Agriculture (USDA) report.
Although local soyabean cultivation remained limited, the expansion was expected to increase domestic production of soyabean meal and oil, the ‘Vietnam - Oilseeds and Products Annual’ released on 15 April said.
As a result, soyabean imports were forecast to rise to 3.2M tonnes in 2025/26 and 3.8M tonnes 2026/27.
Demand for soyabean meal for animal and aquaculture feed was projected to reach 7.4M tonnes 2025/26 and 7.8M tonnes 2026/27, driven by higher overall feed demand.
Vietnam’s soyabean planted area was forecast to decline to 25,000ha in 2025/26, with production estimated at 41,000 tonnes, with the downward trend expected to continue in 2026/27, with planted area projected at 24,000ha and production at 40,000 tonnes.
“Farmers continue to shift to more profitable crops, such as fruits and vegetables, as domestic soyabeans remain less competitive than imports,” the USDA said.
Vietnam’s soyabean crushing was expected to increase to 2.5M tonnes in 2025/26 and to rise further to 3M tonnes in 2026/27, reflecting continued expansion in crushing capacity.
Against this backdrop, soyabean imports were forecast to increase to 3.2M tonnes in 2025/26 and to 3.8M tonnes in 2026/27.
As of 31 December 2025, the country imported 2.61M tonnes of soyabeans, an increase of 17.6% compared to the previous year, according to Vietnam Customs data.
Brazil was the largest supplier, accounting for 45.8% of total imports, followed by the USA with 43.5%. Imports of US soyabeans rose by 23.8% year-on-year.
In the first two months of 2026, Vietnam’s soyabean imports increased by 70% compared to the same period the previous year.
Soyabean consumption for food use in 2025/26 was forecast at 550,000 tonnes, increasing to 570,000 tonnes in 2026/27 due to continued growth in the food service and tourism sectors.
The USDA maintained its soyabean feed consumption estimates at 240,000 tonnes for 2025/26, rising to 260,000 tonnes in 2026/27, in line with projected poultry and swine production growth and animal feed demand.
