Vietnam's Agricultural Exports: New Billion-Dollar Contenders Emerge as Sustainability Becomes Key

Experts say verified coffee-growing data is key to helping Vietnamese exporters meet sustainability requirements, secure market access and increase export value. Against a backdrop of persistent uncertainty in global commerce, the Government is implementing a broad range of measures to strengthen export growth during the remainder of the year. These include expanding overseas markets through economic diplomacy, maximising the benefits of free trade agreements (FTAs), streamlining administrative procedures, reducing logistics costs, improving access to credit and helping businesses overcome trade barriers. Authorities are also encouraging deeper processing, official cross-border exports and greater market diversification to improve the competitiveness of Vietnamese products. In the first half of 2026, Vietnam recorded five export items each earning over 10 billion USD, accounting for 62.6% of the country’s total export turnover. The biggest risk facing the real estate market is liquidity, while the biggest risk associated with technology lies with its users. Technology can only deliver its full value when it addresses practical market and human needs. Central Retail Vietnam will continue investing in its supermarket network while increasing the share of Vietnamese products in its distribution system. The group will also deepen support for farmers, cooperatives and producers across the supply chain, from cultivation and harvesting to packaging and product standardisation. Dutch businesses welcomed Vietnam's reform agenda and showed strong interest in expanding collaboration in finance and international financial services, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, logistics, ports, shipbuilding, water management, renewable energy and green transition. Vietnam and Argentina emerged as notable exceptions in the European Commission’s (EC) latest agri-food trade report. Imports from Argentina increased 10% thanks to higher sunflower seed shipments, while imports from Vietnam climbed 9%, driven by robust coffee exports. The Business Times of Singapore recently reported that Vietnam moving up the value chain is attracting high-quality investment from Asia in the first half of 2026 despite shifts in the composition of foreign direct investment (FDI). According to PwC’s Global M&A Industry Trends: 2026 Mid-Year Outlook, the total value of global M&A transactions this year could reach approximately 4 trillion USD, driven by large-scale deals and growing investment in AI-related infrastructure. By the end of July, agro-forestry-fishery exports were estimated at nearly 42.6 billion USD, up about 7% year-on-year and equal to 57.6% of the annual target. The performance reaffirmed the sector's role as one of the country's economic mainstays. With the current trading band of +/- 5%, the ceiling rate applicable for commercial banks during the day is 26,605 VND/USD, and the floor rate 24,071 VND/USD. Household deposits at banks reached a new high of 10.8 quadrillion VND (414 billion USD) at the end of May, up more than 108 trillion VND from April and increasing by 4.76% from the beginning of the year, equivalent to nearly 492 trillion VND. Instead of focusing mainly on protecting consumers as previously, the Law on E-commerce clearly defines the legal responsibilities of all participants in the digital marketplace, including e-commerce platforms, businesses, online sellers, key opinion leaders (KOLs), key opinion consumers (KOCs) and affiliate marketers. Established in 1981 as a family-run grocery store, Lucky Supermarket and Dong Phuong Group have grown into one of the largest Asian food retail and distribution networks in Western Canada. Over the past 45 years, the business has evolved beyond serving the Vietnamese community to become an important distribution channel for Vietnamese agricultural products, food and consumer goods. Following its July 2025 merger with Hai Duong province, Hai Phong city has become one of the largest economic hubs in the country, with an expanded development space and direct connectivity between industrial and agricultural production regions, and urban areas in the west with the seaport and logistics system in the east. Vietravel Airlines has unveiled a plan to operate a direct flight route between Ho Chi Minh City - the southern largest economic hub of Vietnam, and Shenzhen of China, with services set to commence on August 15. Western Australia Premier Roger Cook described Vietnam as one of the state’s key partners in Southeast Asia, while highlighting Western Australia’s growing role in the global clean energy transition, backed by its strengths in renewable energy, green hydrogen and critical minerals. The amended regulations add Vietnam to the list of countries permitted to export fresh durian to India. The South Asian nation also waives additional phytosanitary declaration requirements on the phytosanitary certificate and does not impose any special import conditions for the product. The number of aircraft takeoffs and landings neared 27,919, an increase of more than 8,500 flights, or almost 44%. The surge came as the airport sustained high-intensity operations while fast-tracking a major expansion to prepare for the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week 2027. As AI and digital technology reshape the global economy, enhancing the digital capability of MSMEs is essential not only to support their digital transformation but also to unlock new momentum for enhancing productivity, efficiency and competitiveness, said Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chair of the APEC 2027 National Secretariat Nguyen Minh Vu. Organised by the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) under Thailand's Ministry of Commerce, the event offers visitors a wide range of products and services, including food and beverages, beauty and wellness products, electrical appliances and household goods, fashion and accessories, and mother-and-baby products. It showcases offerings from the trade, tourism, banking and hospitality sectors, including restaurants certified under the Thai SELECT programme. The exhibition, jointly organised by VINEXAD Company and the Ho Chi Minh City Medical Equipment Association (HMEA), features 380 booths displaying thousands of products covering pharmaceuticals, medical and dental equipment, rehabilitation, healthcare technologies, dietary supplements, cosmetics, pharmaceutical ingredients, and production machinery. From top logistics groups, seaports, and international freight forwarders to pioneering brands in robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), forklifts, commercial vehicles, smart warehouse equipment, and automation technology, the event presents a complete picture of the modern logistics ecosystem and smart supply chains. Copyright, VietnamPlus, Vietnam News Agency (VNA) Editor-in-chief, Mr. Tran Tien Duan.