Vietnam receives first 27 tonnes of Brazilian beef

Vietnam this week received its first shipment of Brazilian beef — a 27-tonne load of the patinho cut. The delivery marks the effective start of exports to the Asian country, following the market opening completed in March this year.

The announcement of the opening was made on March 28 by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, after official meetings with Vietnamese leaders, including Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính. “After many years of attempts, the prime minister announced that he will finally buy Brazilian beef. It is extraordinary news and I think it is very important for both Vietnam and Brazil,” President Lula said at the time.

The president also highlighted that this rapprochement opens the door to investments in Brazilian slaughterhouses in Vietnam, which could transform the country into a regional export platform for Southeast Asia.

In 2024, Vietnam imported US$3.9 billion in agricultural products from Brazil, with cereals, flour, textile fibers, and the soybean complex being the most notable. With a population of 101 million, the 14th most populous country in the world represents a growing market for Brazilian agribusiness.

Agriculture and Livestock Minister Carlos Fávaro described the shipment as a milestone for Brazilian agriculture. “Every new destination reached represents more income for rural producers, more jobs in Brazil, and the assurance that our production finds a place on the tables of millions of people around the world,” he said.

The Secretary of Trade and International Relations of the Ministry of Agriculture, Luís Rua, added that the result is the outcome of joint efforts. “The first shipment materializes a coordinated effort between the government and the private sector. Access to the Vietnamese market adds to the more than 430 openings already achieved under this administration, expands Brazil’s presence in the Asian market, strengthens our trade balance, and diversifies destinations.”

The ceremony marking the arrival of the shipment in Vietnam was attended by Brazil’s agricultural attaché in the country, Juliano Vieira, who has been actively involved in negotiations and supporting closer ties between the private sectors of the two countries. The work of agricultural attachés has been decisive in expanding Brazil’s agricultural footprint abroad: more than two-thirds of new market openings have taken place in countries where Brazil has an agricultural attaché.

Record production

In 2024, Brazilian livestock production hit a record. Beef output reached 10.9 million tonnes, while combined beef, pork, and poultry production exceeded 31 million tonnes, consolidating Brazil’s position as one of the world’s main protein suppliers.

With the start of beef exports to Vietnam, the two countries deepen a trade relationship that already moves billions of dollars in agricultural goods. The expectation is that shipments will intensify in the coming months, boosting Brazil’s presence in Southeast Asia and strengthening technical and sanitary cooperation between the two nations.

Source: MAPA

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