monthly report of vietnam's beef and cattle market (february 2024)

Vietnamese version

The total value of Vietnam’s livestock product exports in January 2024 reached 15.4 million USD, a 56% decrease compared to the previous month and a 4% decrease compared to the same period in 2023.

In January 2024, Vietnam’s primary livestock product exports include fresh, chilled, or frozen pork (HS 0203) with a value of 6.1 million USD; processed or preserved meat and meat by-products (HS 1602) with a value of 4.9 million USD; and other fresh, chilled, or frozen meat and meat by-products (HS 0208) with a value of 1.9 million USD.

During the month, Vietnam did not export live cattle (HS 0102). Most of the meat products exported in January experienced significant fluctuations compared to the previous month. Notably, poultry meat and by-products (HS 0207), whether fresh, chilled, or frozen, increased by 87% compared to the previous month. Processed meat and meat by-products suitable for consumption after slaughter, including salted, brined, dried, smoked, fine powder, and coarse powder made from meat or meat by-products (HS0210), decreased by 91%.

In January 2024, Hong Kong and Japan were the two largest export markets for Vietnam, accounting for values of 6.9 million USD and 2.9 million USD, respectively. However, exports to Australia experienced a sharp decline, constituting a very small proportion of 0.003% of Vietnam’s total livestock product exports. Notably, during this month, the export value to the Japanese market surged by 108%, while exports to the United States plummeted by 80% compared to the previous month.

During the month, Hong Kong was the primary export market for fresh, chilled, or frozen pork, accounting for an impressive 94.2% of the total value. Meanwhile, Japan received the majority of processed or preserved meat and meat by-products (after slaughter or processing)(HS 1602), constituting 58% of the overall export value, and 22.5% of exports went to Hong Kong. Additionally, poultry meat and by-products of the heading 01.05, whether fresh, chilled, or frozen (HS: 0207), were predominantly exported to China and Papua New Guinea, making up 83.4% and 10.8%, respectively.

In January 2024, Vietnam’s total value of livestock product imports reached 159 million USD, experiencing a 1.2% decrease compared to the previous month and a remarkable 76.2% increase compared to the same period in 2023.

In January 2024, frozen buffalo and cattle meat (HS 0202) with a value of 74.8 million USD were imported, representing an 11% increase compared to the previous month. Import of processed or preserved meat and meat by-products of the heading HS 01.05, whether fresh, chilled, or frozen (HS 0207) was valued at 25.6 million USD, experiencing a 17% decrease compared to the previous month. Meat and edible by-products after slaughter (HS 0206), with a value of 20 million USD, showed a 13% increase compared to the previous month. Live cattle imports (HS 0102) amounted to 15.9 million USD, marking a 7% decrease in January 2024 compared to December 2023. Fresh or chilled buffalo and cattle meat (HS 0201) had an import value of 2.24 million USD, falling by 14% compared to the previous month. 

In January 2024, Vietnam's two main supply markets for livestock products were still Australia and India, with import values of 25 million and 63 million USD, respectively. Imports from Australia rose by 98% whereas imports from India increased by 228%, and imports from the EU increased by 51% compared to the same period last year.

Australia accounted for 82.9% of the live cattle imports this month, while Thailand accounted for 17.1%. India accounts for 78.4% of the Vietnam’s imports of frozen buffalo and beef meat. With an 85.2% share, Australia is the major import market for fresh or chilled cattle meat.

​In January 2024, Vietnam’s imports of livestock products from Australia reached 25.5 million USD, experiencing a 3% decrease compared to the previous month and a 61% increase compared to the same period in the previous year. Among these imports, live cattle (HS 0102), and frozen bovine meat (HS 0202) were the most significant items, with import values of 13.2 million USD and 7.3 million USD, respectively.

​In January 2024, Vietnam’s imports of beef and cattle from Australia reached 23.9 million USD, experiencing a 2.6% decrease compared to the previous month and a remarkable 58.9% increase compared to the same period in 2023.

During the month, live cattle were the most imported product, with a total import value of 13.2 million USD, marking a 33% increase compared to the same period in the previous year. Following closely were boneless meat cuts of bovine animals with an import value of 7.01 million USD. Most other livestock products imported from Australia in this month also saw increased import values compared to the same period in the previous year.

• In January 2024, most of the frozen bovine meat imports from Australia to Vietnam increased compared to December 2023. Specifically, in the import of meat from the bovine family, bone-in cuts rose by 30% compared to the previous month, while boneless cuts increased by 12%. However, live cattle imports decreased by 12% during this month.
• The price of live cattle, as well as the entire imported beef products from Australia to Vietnam in January 2024, showed a tendency to rise compared to the previous month, except for bone-in cuts.
• The top 5 enterprises importing beef and livestock products from Australia, based on value, accounted for nearly one-fourth (23.4%) of the total volume of beef and beef products imported from Australia in January 2024.

In Week 8, the average prices of beef thigh and beef fillet both increased compared to the previous week. The beef thigh was priced at 218,100 VND/kg, showing a 7.4% increase, while beef fillet was priced at 231,000 VND/kg, with a 0.4% increase compared to Week 7.

In Week 8, the average price of live weight cattle was 83,000 VND/kg, showing a 0.4% increase compared to the previous week. This is also the highest price week since the beginning of 2024.  Regionally, the north witnessed comparatively higher prices than the south for both BBB and Charolais cattle. 

In Week 6 and Week 8, the number of cattle at feedlots remained stable, ranging from a minimum of 100 to a maximum of 8,000 animals. Meanwhile, at the abattoirs, the average daily slaughter ranged from a minimum of 5 to a maximum of 30 animals.

• In Week 8, the price range for all cattle breeds at the abattoirs experienced slight fluctuations, ranging from 1,000 VND/kg to 3,000 VND/kg price slump. The lowest price for Australian beef during Week 8 was 72,000 VND/kg. Meanwhile, the lowest price for BBB beef in Week 8 was 75,000 VND/kg, and the highest price during that week reached 83,000 VND/kg.
• For traders, the price range for cattle remained relatively stable, with minor changes observed only in the prices of buffalo and BBB beef. The price of buffalo in Week 8 fluctuated between 58,000 VND/kg and 60,000 VND/kg. Additionally, BBB beef prices in Week 6 were higher than in Week 8, with the highest price reaching 85,500 VND/kg.
• Regarding feedlots, the highest price for Australian beef was recorded in Week 6 at 78,000 VND/kg, while BBB beef reached a maximum price of 84,000 VND/kg. The lowest price range for various cattle breeds remained stable throughout both Week 6 and Week 8.

The price of fresh beef at the abattoirs remained unchanged between Week 6 and Week 8. Specifically, the lowest price for BBB beef in the Central and Central Highlands regions was 170,000 VND/kg, while in the Northern region, it reached a maximum of 190,000 VND/kg. The lowest price for local beef in the Northern region was 170,000 VND/kg.
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• Prices for Cambodian cattle in the border area in both weeks 6 and 8 varied from 45 to 50 thousand VND/kg for animals weighing approximately 230 kg, with the highest price of 56 thousand VND/kg for cattle weighing approximately 350 kg.
• When it came to slaughter cattle, the prices for animals weighing between 450 and 500 kg ranged from 58 to 60 thousand VND/kg in both weeks 6 and 8, while the prices for cattle weighing between 600 and 700 kg peaked in both weeks at 68 thousand VND/kg.

In Week 9, the price of Vietnamese beef remained relatively stable at most supermarkets, except for Go Mart, where prices for beef fillet and beef thigh decreased. However, the price of Brisket Naval End increased compared to the previous week. The lowest price for Beef Fillet was at Go supermarket at 319,000 VND/kg.
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During the same week, the price of Australian beef remained unchanged at most supermarkets. However, in Week 9, Go Mart was running a promotion with a 10%-15% discount on Australian beef products such as beef shank, shoulder and brisket. The lowest price for beef shank was at Homefarm at 219,000 VND/kg.