Vietnam’s beef market is small relative to pork and chicken yet it is expanding.
Rising incomes, urbanisation, and a shift toward eating out are lifting demand.
Hotpot and Korean-style barbecue anchor food service growth, while modern retail is building a chilled category for at-home cooking.
However, domestic supply remains constrained.
Cattle production is fragmented, land is tight, and processing is dominated by small abattoirs.
Cold-chain capacity is improving but uneven, so imports fill the gap through both boxed beef and live-cattle flows into major ports before moving to wet markets and supermarkets.
Beef is a premium protein for most households, so price sensitivity is high and substitution with pork or poultry is common.
Import costs, currency moves, and logistics shape retail prices, while traceability and food safety expectations are rising.
The outlook favours premium cuts in big cities, steady growth in quick-service and casual dining, and gradual formalisation of the supply chain, with risks from policy shifts and regional animal-health events.
Beef in Vietnam in numbers
These data points provide a broad overview of the size of Vietnam’s beef market and its trajectory.
Beef consumption in Vietnam
Apparent consumption of beef in Vietnam was 459,561 tons in 2023, calculated using data from the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and Trade Map.
This was up from 404,911 tons in 2020 giving beef consumption in Vietnam a CAGR of 6.53 percent.
This was significantly less than chicken which recorded apparent consumption in 2023 of 1.93 million tons.
See also: Chicken in Vietnam 2025: Market Trends, Challenges, Opportunities, and Key Players
It was also much lower than apparent pork consumption which reached 4.3 million tons in 2023.
See also: Pork in Vietnam 2025: Market Trends, Imports, and Key Players
Beef production in Vietnam
In 2023, Vietnam produced 336,800 tons of beef.
This was up from 309,200 tons in 2020, according to data from the FAO.
This represents a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.37 percent.
Vietnam beef imports, tonnes
| Code | Product label | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024^ |
| 20130 | Fresh or chilled bovine meat, boneless | 2,576 | 2,182 | 2,089 | 1,899 | 1,571 |
| 20120 | Fresh or chilled bovine cuts, with bone in (excl. carcases and 1/2 carcases) | 175 | 141 | 317 | 233 | 70 |
| 20230 | Frozen, boneless meat of bovine animals | 82,256 | 92,903 | 106,248 | 99,033 | 216,744 |
| 20220 | Frozen bovine cuts, with bone in (excl. carcases and half-carcases) | 1,415 | 1,780 | 2,491 | 2,685 | 9,479 |
| 20210 | Frozen bovine carcases and half-carcases | 21 | 77 | 4 | ||
| 20610 | Fresh or chilled edible offal of bovine animals | 4 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 3,411 |
| 20621 | Frozen edible bovine tongues | 114 | 407 | 576 | 939 | 2,123 |
| 20622 | Frozen edible bovine livers | 2 | 1 | 1 | 53 | |
| 20629 | Frozen edible bovine offal (excl. tongues and livers) | 9,483 | 13,467 | 19,684 | 18,413 | 186,095 |
| 21020 | Meat of bovine animals, salted, in brine, dried or smoked | 3 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2,019 |
| Total | 96,047 | 110,967 | 131,415 | 123,212 | 421,565 |
^uses partner data
Source: Trade Map, accessed August 18, 2025
Vietnam beef exports, tonnes
| Code | Product label | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024^ |
| 20130 | Fresh or chilled bovine meat, boneless | 1 | 1 | |||
| 20230 | Frozen, boneless meat of bovine animals | 206 | 162 | 290 | 386 | 287 |
| 20220 | Frozen bovine cuts, with bone in (excl. carcases and half-carcases) | 4 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 20629 | Frozen edible bovine offal (excl. tongues and livers) | 13 | 5 | 31 | 36 | 1,016 |
| 21020 | Meat of bovine animals, salted, in brine, dried or smoked | 116 | 85 | 22 | 29 | 222 |
| Total | 336 | 257 | 346 | 451 | 1525 |
^uses partner data
Source: Trade Map, accessed August 18, 2025
Challenges facing beef in Vietnam
There are a number of challenges facing the beef market in Vietnam.
Some of these include:
Smallholder constraints & production inefficiency
Most beef comes from smallholder operations using traditional methods.
Low productivity, limited access to technology, and rising feed and labour costs hinder profitability and make scaling difficult.
See also: Agriculture in Vietnam: Exports, Challenges & Industry Trends
Supply chain fragmentation & infrastructure gaps
The beef value chain lacks integration.
Weak cold‑chain infrastructure and poor logistics increase spoilage, disrupt consistent supply, and hinder quality control.
Food safety, traceability & governance
Traceability is often absent. Governance is weak, inspections are inconsistent, and trust is eroded by past scandals and quality doubts.
Rising input costs & environmental risks
Feed costs have spiked due to global price increases.
Natural disasters and disease outbreaks further disrupt production and impose financial strain.
Intense import competition
Imported beef faces tariff advantages under FTAs.
Domestic producers struggle to compete on price and product range.
Opportunities in Vietnam’s beef market
There are a number of opportunities for bee producers in the beef market in Vietnam.
Some of these include:
Rising and diversifying demand
Vietnam’s meat market is expanding quickly, with beef consumption rising as incomes grow and urban lifestyles shift.
Modern retail and food service growth are boosting demand for chilled beef, premium cuts, and convenient products.
Import gap meets local supply shortfall
Domestic cattle production cannot keep up with consumption, creating opportunities for imports.
Higher-value boxed beef and value-added items are filling a widening gap in the market.
Premium and food service channels
Korean and Japanese cuisine trends are fuelling demand for quality beef.
Younger consumers are driving growth in full-service restaurants, casual dining, and delivery platforms.
See also: Vietnam’s Food and Beverage Industry: Market Trends, Exports, and Key Players
Strategic foreign investment
Global meat companies are investing in processing plants and cold-chain infrastructure.
These investments expand local supply, improve logistics, and open regional export opportunities.
Technology, traceability and sustainability
New initiatives are targeting improved productivity, food safety, and transparency in beef supply chains.
Digital traceability, biosafety upgrades, and sustainability programs present scope for technology providers and investors.
Vietnam’s beef businesses: key players
Vietnam’s beef businesses are led by a mix of importers, distributors, and food processors, both local and domestic.
These include:
Here’s a concise list of Vietnam’s beef business key players with two-sentence descriptions:
Vissan JSC (SATRA)
Vietnam’s largest processed meat producer holds nearly half the domestic processed meat market.
It distributes fresh, frozen, and processed beef through its own retail stores and supermarket chains.
Masan MEATLife (MeatDeli)
Part of Masan Group, it focuses on fresh and chilled meat with modern processing and branding.
Its MeatDeli brand is expanding beef offerings alongside pork.
Charoen Pokphand (CP) Vietnam
A Thai conglomerate active in livestock, feed, and food processing, controlling about 13 percent of Vietnam’s processed meat segment.
It imports and distributes beef products through modern trade channels.
Japan Vietnam Livestock
Operates Vietnam’s first refrigerated beef processing plant in Tam Dao.
The facility targets 10,000 tonnes per year and supplies higher-quality chilled beef to urban markets.
JBS (Brazil)
The world’s largest meat company has committed US$100 million to build two plants in Vietnam.
The investment will include beef, pork, and poultry processing to serve both domestic and export demand.
Dabaco Group
A diversified Vietnamese agribusiness with livestock, feed, and food processing.
It is gradually expanding its beef production capacity through integrated supply chains.
Japfa Vietnam
Subsidiary of Indonesia’s Japfa Group, engaged in animal feed, poultry, and livestock.
In Vietnam, it is scaling up beef and meat processing operations for local consumption.
Gourmet Partner Vietnam
Premium meat distributor supplying high-end restaurants and hotels with imported Wagyu and Angus beef.
It specialises in gourmet and fine dining channels.
Holafoods JSC
Importer and distributor of frozen buffalo meat, a key part of Vietnam’s low-cost red meat supply.
It serves wet markets, wholesalers, and smaller retailers across the country.
See also: Vietnam’s Meat Market 2025: Data, Scandals, Risks, and Key Players
Popular beef products in Vietnam
There are a range of popular beef products available in Vietnam.
These include:
Frozen beef cuts
Frozen boneless beef cuts such as chuck, sirloin, and brisket are widely sold in supermarkets.
They are popular for stir-fries, stews, pho, and barbecue-style meals.
Frozen beef offal
Edible offal like tripe, tendon, and heart is commonly imported and packaged for retail.
These products are used in home cooking and foodservice dishes.
Packaged soup and stew bases
Ready-to-use bases for pho broth and bò kho are widely available on shelves.
They allow consumers to prepare traditional dishes quickly at home.
Beef seasoning pastes
Jarred pastes provide concentrated beef flavour for soups, stir-fries, and marinades.
They are convenient alternatives to homemade stock.
Dried beef snacks
Beef jerky and beef floss (ruốc or chà bông) are shelf-stable snacks.
They are consumed widely as quick, protein-rich options.
Ground beef
Ground or minced beef is a staple in supermarkets and butcher shops.
It is used in burgers, meatballs, sauces, and everyday home meals.
FAQ: Beef in Vietnam
These are some of the most common questions about beef in Vietnam.
How important is beef in Vietnam?
Beef plays a smaller role than pork and chicken in Vietnam, but is growing in importance.
Rising incomes, urbanisation, and demand for diverse dining options are steadily increasing consumption.
Who are the major players in Vietnam’s beef industry?
The major players include domestic firms like Vissan, Masan MEATLife, and Dabaco, as well as foreign investors such as Sojitz (through Japan Vietnam Livestock) and JBS.
Large importers and distributors like New Viet Dairy and Gourmet Partner also play a central role in supply.
Where does Vietnam import its beef from?
Vietnam imports most of its beef and buffalo meat from India, which supplies lower-cost frozen product.
Higher-value beef comes mainly from Australia, the United States, and Canada, along with smaller volumes from Brazil and New Zealand.
What beef products are most popular in Vietnam?
Popular supermarket and butcher products include frozen boneless cuts, ground beef, offal such as tendon and tripe, and dried beef snacks like jerky and beef floss.
Chilled premium cuts are increasingly available in modern retail outlets and foodservice channels.
What are the challenges and opportunities in Vietnam beef?
Challenges include smallholder production inefficiency, weak cold-chain logistics, and strong import competition.
Opportunities lie in premium dining, modern retail, foreign investment in processing, and improvements in traceability and sustainability.
Outlook
Vietnam’s beef market is relatively small compared to pork and chicken, but is steadily expanding.
Consumption is rising as incomes increase, urbanisation accelerates, and younger consumers adopt diverse dining habits, especially through hotpot, barbecue, and premium dining.
Domestic production remains limited, with smallholder farmers, fragmented supply chains, and weak cold-chain infrastructure restricting growth.
Notably, opportunities exist in premium retail, food service expansion, and foreign investment, alongside improvements in traceability and sustainability.
However, challenges remain from high feed costs, disease risks, competition from imports, and the need for better logistics and governance.
That said, Vietnam’s business environment and food and beverage industry are dynamic and can change quickly.
With this in mind, to keep up with the latest developments in Vietnam’s beef sector, make sure to subscribe to the-shiv.