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

Vietnamese version

Vietnam's total export value of livestock products in December 2023 reached 35.4 million USD, an increase of 89% over the previous month and an increase of 101% over the same period in 2022.

In December 2023, other live animals (tortoise, dogs, cats, long-tailed monkey,...) (HS 0106); other prepared or preserved meat, meat offal or blood (HS 1602); meat of swine, fresh, chilled or frozen (HS 0203); live bovine animals (HS 0102) were Vietnam's main export livestock products with a value of 14.3 million USD, 6.2 million USD, 5.5 million USD, and 4.4 million USD, respectively. In December, the export value of most livestock products declined compared to the previous month, except for other live animals whose export value increased sharply.

Hong Kong and ASEAN are the two largest export markets for Vietnam. In 2023, the export value to Hong Kong was 71.5 million USD, while to ASEAN, it was 47.3 million USD. Although the export value to Australia increased by 41% compared to 2022, it only accounted for 0.05% of Vietnam's total livestock exports. In December, export values to the US and China saw a significant increase from the previous year.

Other live animals (HS 0106) and other prepared or preserved meat, meat offal or blood  (HS 1602) are the main export products in December 2023. Of which, the US is the main export market for other live animals, accounting for 97% of total export value. Other prepared or preserved meat, meat offal or blood are mainly exported to Japan and Hong Kong, accounting for 47.5% and 38.8%, respectively. Live bovine animals are mainly exported to Laos and Cambodia, accounting for 54.8% and 45.2%, respectively.

Vietnam imported livestock products worth 161 million USD in December 2023, a decrease of 11% from the previous month and a decrease of 10.4% from the same period of 2022.

In December 2023, meat of bovine animals, frozen (HS 0202) and meat and edible offal, of the poultry of heading 01.05, fresh, chilled or frozen (HS 0207) are the two most imported livestock products with values of 67.6 million USD (an increase of 0.1% over the previous month) and 31.1 million USD (a decrease of 9% over the previous month), respectively. Import of live bovine animals reached 17.2 million USD, a 24% decrease compared to November 2023. Import of meat of bovine animals, fresh or chilled (HS 0201), valued at 2.6 million USD, increased by 24% compared to the previous month.

In 2023, India and Australia were the two largest livestock products suppliers for Vietnam, with import values of 524 million USD and 308 million USD, respectively. Compared to 2022, imports from India increased by 4% and imports from Australia increased sharply by 31%.

Meat of bovine animals, frozen (HS 0202) and meat and edible offal, of the poultry, fresh, chilled or frozen (HS 0207) were the main imported items in December 2023. For the month, 87.04% of live bovine animals were sourced from Australia, and 12.96% from Thailand. For meat and edible offal, of the poultry, fresh, chilled or frozen, 38.02% originated from the US. Besides, 76.5% of meat of bovine animals, frozen were sourced from India. Australia was the main source of meat of bovine animals, fresh or chilled, supplying 79.6% of the Vietnamese demand. 

In December 2023, Vietnam's import of livestock products from Australia reached 26.2 million USD, a decrease of 21% compared to the previous month and a decrease of 9.3% compared to the same period of 2022. Of which, live bovine animals; and meat of bovine animals, frozen were the most imported products, with import values of 14.9 million USD and 6.5 million USD, respectively.

Vietnam's import value of beef and cattle from Australia in December 2023 was 24.5 million USD, a decrease of 23.7% compared to the previous month and a decrease of 11.7% compared to the same period of 2022.
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In 2023, live bovine animals (not for breeding) was the most imported products, with an import value of 188.9 million USD, an increase of 79% compared to 2022. The import value of most other livestock products in 2023 decreased, except for meat of bovine animals, frozen: other cuts with bone in, which increased by 27%; and edible offal of bovine animals, swine, sheep, goats, horses, asses, mules or hinnies, fresh, chilled or frozen: frozen bone and other, which increased by 8%. 

• In December 2023, imports of fresh/chilled/frozen meat of bovine animals with bone in from Australia increased compared to November 2023. Of which, imports of fresh/chilled meat of bovine animals with bone in increased by 124%, and imports of frozen meat of bovine animals with bone in increased by 135%. However, imports of live cattle decreased by 31% compared to the previous month.
• The price of live cattle as well as beef products imported from Australia in December 2023 decreased slightly compared to the previous month except for meat of bovine animals, fresh or chilled: other cuts with bone in.
• The top 5 enterprises that imported beef and cattle products from Australia, by value, accounted for almost one-quarter (23.38%) of the total cattle and beef products imported from Australia in December 2023.

During week 4 of 2024, the prices of beef fillet and beef thigh increased over the previous week. Of which, the price of beef thigh was 205.8 thousand VND/kg, an increase of 1.5% compared to week 3; and the price of beef fillet was 230.8 thousand VND/kg, an increase of 1.4% compared to week 3.

In week 4, the average price of live-weight cattle was 82.5 thousand VND/kg, an increase of 0.2% over the previous week. This is also the third consecutive week that the average price has been maintained at just over 82 thousand VND/kg.

In weeks 2 and 4, in terms of the current number of cattle handled in the facilities (feedlot or abattoir), the smallest feedlot had 100 heads of cattle whereas the biggest had 8000 animals in their feedlot. Similarly, the smallest abattoir slaughtered 5 animals in a day while the biggest slaughtered 30 animals in a day.
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• In week 4, prices of all cattle breeds at abattoir fluctuated slightly, ranging from 1-5 thousand VND/kg. For Australia cattle, the lowest price in week 2 was 73 thousand VND/kg, the highest price in week 4 was 78 thousand VND/kg. For BBB cattle, the lowest price in week 4 was 72 thousand VND/kg and the highest price in week 2 was 88 thousand VND/kg.
• For traders, the prices of Australian cattle in week 4 were slightly higher than in week 2, with the highest price of 77 thousand VND/kg. The prices of Thai Brahman ranged from 70-72 thousand VND/kg in week 2 and increased to 72-74 thousand VND/kg. The prices of BBB cattle were higher than other cattle breeds, ranging from 72-85.5 thousand VND/kg in week 4.
• Prices of all cattle breeds at feedlots in weeks 2 and 4 remained relatively stable. The prices of Australian cattle ranged from 76-78 thousand VND/kg in week 4, Thai Brahman ranging from 68-75 thousand VND/kg, and BBB cattle ranging from 72-84 thousand VND/kg.

The prices of hot beef at abattoirs remained stable betweek weeks 2 and 4. Of which, the lowest price of BBB cattle in the Central-Highland was 170 thousand VND/kg and the highest price in the North was 190 thousand VND/kg. The lowest price of local cattle in the North was 180 thousand VND/kg.
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• In weeks 2 and 4, the prices of Cambodian cattle in the border area for animals weighing about 230 kg ranged from 45-50 thousand VND/kg and for cattle weighing about 350 kg, the highest price in week 2 was 60 thousand VND/kg.
• For slaughter cattle, in weeks 2 and 4, the prices for animals weighing about 450-500 kg ranged from 58-60 thousand VND/kg and for cattle weighing from 600-700kg, the lowest price in week 2 was 60 thousand VND/kg and the highest price in week 4 was 68 thousand VND/kg.

In week 5, the prices of Vietnamese beef at supermarkets remained unchanged compared to the previous week. Additionally, Bach Hoa Xanh launched a 10% discount program for Fohla ground beef, lean beef, and brisket navel end.

During the week 5, the prices of Australian beef also remained stable compared to the previous week. The maximum price of beef brisket at GO Mart was 326,000 VND per kilogram, whereas Home Farm offered relatively cheaper beef shank at 219,000 VND per kilogram.