Vietnam's Bioethanol Push Drives Corn Imports to Record High

Vietnam is rapidly increasing its bioethanol production and imports, leading to significant changes in the sourcing of feed ingredients. In June, the country mandated bioethanol blending in all gasoline, according to a report from the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the US Department of Agriculture.

The domestic corn production has been decreasing due to farmers shifting to more profitable crops such as fruit and coffee amid higher input costs and competitively priced imported corn. As a result, import volumes are expected to reach 13.5 million tonnes in 2025-26 and 15 million tonnes in 2026-27.

Corn imports have already seen a 49% increase year on year, totaling 6.8 million tonnes during the first half of calendar year 2026. Argentina, Brazil, and the United States remain the primary sources of corn for Vietnam.