Vietnam imported 595,700 tonnes of meat worth USD 1.7 billion in the first seven months, up 11.4 per cent in volume and 32.4 per cent in value year on year, preliminary customs data showed.
India accounted for 20.29 per cent of total imports, supplying 120,800 tonnes worth USD521.28 million, up 26.5 per cent in volume and 55.8 per cent in value year on year.
Fresh and frozen buffalo meat accounted for 18.89 per cent of import volume and 29.28 per cent of value, making it the second-largest major meat category by volume and the largest by value.
Vietnam imported an estimated 112,000 tonnes of buffalo meat worth around USD498 million during the seven months, at an average price of about USD 4,450 per tonne, equivalent to VND 116,000 (USD 4.41) per kg.
Other major imports included fresh, chilled or frozen poultry meat and offal, accounting for 36.49 per cent of volume, pork at 18.82 per cent and beef at 5.85 per cent. Imports from the US, Brazil, Spain, Canada and Germany also rose sharply.
Vietnam imported 112,090 tonnes of fresh, chilled or frozen pork worth USD 185.54 million during the period, up 27.1 per cent in volume but down 20.9 per cent in value. The average import price fell 38.4 per cent year on year to USD1,638 per tonne.
Pork was imported from 19 markets, led by Brazil with a 44.5 per cent share, followed by Russia at 21.41 per cent, Spain at 20.54 per cent and Germany at 4.58 per cent.
Meanwhile, Vietnam exported 10,700 tonnes of meat and meat products worth USD72.06 million in the first seven months, down 17.7 per cent in volume but up 4.8 per cent in value.
Hong Kong was the largest export market, accounting for 32.37 per cent of volume. Shipments there fell 42.8 per cent to 3,400 tonnes, while their value dropped 28 per cent to USD 29.59 million.
Exports to China, France, Singapore, the US, Cambodia, the Netherlands and Germany increased.
Pork remained Vietnam's main meat export, with shipments reaching 3,700 tonnes worth USD 31.77 million, down 23.6 per cent in volume and 15.1 per cent in value year on year.
