Vietnam Duck Meat Market- Trend Analysis & Forecasts

Market/ Product Overview

Vietnam’s duck meat industry occupies an important niche in its broader poultry sector and is characterized by a mix of traditional smallholder systems and emerging commercial farms. According to national livestock data, duck populations numbered about ** million head in recent years, contributing significantly to the poultry-meat output. With an average of around 1.2 kg dressed weight per bird, the 2024 production volume is estimated at ** thousand tonnes of duck meat. The cost of production for commercial farms is estimated at about US$ ** per kg live weight, with feed accounting for around 55–60% of total costs in more commercialised operations. In comparison, small-scale backyard flocks, which still account for an estimated **% of the sector, show slower growth and lower yields.

Consumers in Vietnam currently consume roughly 2.5 kg of duck meat per capita per year, but that figure is rising as urban middle-class households show increased affinity for duck as a gourmet or health-oriented protein. The growing retail modernisation and food-service channels are facilitating this shift. In terms of market value, the domestic duck meat segment was worth US$ ** million in 2024 and is forecast to grow robustly as product differentiation (cuts, convenience formats) becomes more widespread. Modern processing facilities and improved cold-chain logistics are enabling higher volumes of chilled and frozen duck meat products, opening export possibilities and elevating the profile of the industry within Southeast Asia. These trends position Vietnam’s duck meat market at an inflection point between traditional production and value-added expansion.

Significance of Vietnam in Global Duck Meat Supply Chain

Vietnam holds rising significance in the global duck meat supply chain due to its growing production capacity, strategic location in Southeast Asia and improving export linkages. While global duck meat production remains dominated by China, Vietnam’s production of ** thousand tonnes in 2024 gives it a meaningful presence among emerging producers. Given the country’s proximity to major Asian markets like China, Japan and South Korea, Vietnamese exports benefit from relatively shorter logistics chains and cost advantages compared to more distant suppliers. The country’s hinterland supports integrated rice–duck production systems – for example in the Mekong Delta – which create synergies between cropping and waterfowl fattening. This integrated model delivers a competitive edge in feed utilisation and cost efficiency.

The export share of total production is estimated at around **%, with chilled or frozen duck cuts increasingly sent to ASEAN neighbours and East Asia, thereby embedding Vietnam as a regional export hub. In addition, Vietnam’s adherence to international food-safety standards and gradual upgrades of processing plants mean that its duck meat products are gaining acceptance in higher-value markets. For global buyers seeking diversified supply beyond primary producers, Vietnam offers a complementary source of duck meat that combines scale, improving quality and geographic advantage, thereby participating actively in the downstream supply chains of gourmet foodservice, retail frozen segments and value-added processed duck products.

Vietnam Duck Meat Supply & Demand Trend

On the supply side, Vietnam’s duck meat market benefits from a large base of producers: over 3 million households are engaged in duck-fattening or mixed poultry-duck systems, with smallholder flocks often numbering fewer than 100 birds. Commercial farms are expanding, and intensive systems now account for an estimated **% of national production. Average live-weight productivity in commercial systems has improved by about 6% over the past five years, delivering typical slaughter weights of around 2.3 kg per bird compared to 2.1 kg previously. On the demand side, domestic consumption is rising steadily as per-capita intake of duck meat moves toward 3.0 kg by 2026, with urban households showing greater willingness to pay premium prices of US$ ** per kg for chilled fillets.

Export demand also plays a major role: Vietnamese exporters shipped ** thousand tonnes of duck meat in 2024 (+12% YoY), driven by rising orders from China (which accounts for ~40% of exports) and Thailand. However, demand remains constrained by price competition from chicken and pork, which cost 15–20% less than duck on a per-kilogram basis, as well as consumer perceptions that duck is more of an occasional rather than daily protein.

On the supply-demand balance, the estimated supply of ~110 000 tons in 2024 versus domestic consumption of ~88 000 tons implies a modest surplus available for export, supporting the 20% export share. Looking ahead, constraints such as feed price inflation, seasonal disease risk and climatic variability may temporarily tighten supply, but production growth and diversification into value-added formats are expected to maintain a balanced upward trajectory of demand and supply through 2032.

Vietnam Duck Meat Market Segmentation

The Vietnam duck meat market can be segmented in multiple ways: by product form (whole birds, cuts, processed formats), by production system (smallholder/backyard, commercial intensive), and by channel (domestic retail, foodservice, export).

By product form, whole ducks continue to dominate, with an estimated **% of national volume in 2024 representing whole birds (fresh or frozen). Duck cuts (breast fillets, leg/thigh portions) accounted for about **% and are growing fastest at ~9% annual volume growth, while processed formats (marinated, smoked, ready-to-cook) made up the remaining **% but contributed nearly **% of total revenue because of higher margins.

By production system, smallholder farms still produce **% of total volume, but commercial intensive farms are gaining share, representing around **% of 2024 output and growing at 11% annually.

On the channel front, domestic retail consumption accounted for **% of total volume in 2024, dominated by wet-markets, and the remaining **% went to exports and foodservice. Within retail, modern retail outlets contributed about **% of duck meat sales, up from **% in 2020, reflecting shifting consumer purchasing habits. Foodservice demand is particularly strong in the premium hotel and restaurant segment, where duck fillets command prices up to US$ ** per kg, nearly **% more than wet‐market whole birds.

Geographically, the Mekong Delta and Red River Delta regions accounted for nearly **% of production in 2024, while consumption is concentrated in urban areas such as Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, which together represent nearly 35% of domestic demand. From a value perspective, processed and export-oriented segments are expected to capture nearly **% of industry value by 2032, up from around 25% in 2024, indicating a structural shift toward higher‐value formats. For investors and stakeholders, these segmentation dynamics signal that growth will increasingly come from rapid‐growing cuts and processed formats, commercial farms with scale and export‐ready capacity rather than continuing reliance on traditional whole‐bird production.

Vietnam Duck Meat Trade (Export & Import) Trend

Vietnam’s duck meat trade landscape is evolving: the country exported ** thousand tonnes of duck meat in 2024 (+12% YoY) and imported a modest 3,000 tonnes, primarily raw material and breeding stock. Export value is estimated at around US$ ** million in 2024, up 14% from the previous year. Major export destinations include China (which absorbs **% of volumes), Thailand, Japan and Singapore. For instance, shipments to China rose by about 16% in volume in 2024.

On the import side, Vietnam brings in duck genetic stock and frozen duck cuts, mainly from France and the Netherlands, to support processing operations. Tariff regimes are changing: duck meat exports to ASEAN markets benefit from reduced tariffs under regional trade agreements while exports to East Asia incur duties ranging from 5% to 10% depending on bilateral agreements and sanitary certifications. However, non‐tariff trade barriers remain significant: sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) certification costs are high, and outbreaks of avian influenza have triggered temporary bans by some export partners. Logistics costs remain a constraint: export from Vietnam’s inland processing plants to overseas markets involves cold‐chain freight which contributes as much as 18% of landed cost, limiting margin for some smaller processors.

Despite these headwinds, the trade outlook is positive. Export volumes are forecast to grow by about 8–10% annually through 2028, then moderate toward 5% annual growth through 2032 as the base volume expands. Diversification of export markets – for example into the Middle East and EU – is beginning, and domestic policy support for export‐orientation is strengthening, positioning Vietnam for more significant participation in the global duck meat market.

Influence of Vietnam in Global Duck Meat Price

While global duck meat prices are primarily set by major producers such as China, Vietnam’s growing export volumes and competitive cost structure are giving it increasing influence in the Southeast Asian region and shaping wholesale price trends. In 2024, average export prices for Vietnamese whole frozen ducks reached around US$ 2.45 per kg, approximately 8% lower than comparable European-origin duck exports, which bolsters Vietnam’s cost competitiveness.

Wholesale prices in domestic markets have risen at roughly 4% per annum over the past three years, reflecting both higher feed costs and growing consumer demand. When Vietnamese exporters introduce additional supply into regional markets, such as southern China or Thailand, regional pricing trends soften slightly — for instance, a shipment increase of 2,000 tonnes into southern China in late 2023 coincided with a 1.5% decline in import-duty-inclusive landed price in that region.

On the flip side, disease outbreaks or logistical constraints in Vietnam can reduce supply and generate localized price spikes of 10–12% in border markets within months. Because Vietnam operates on shorter logistics corridors and competes on cost, its pricing behaviour can exert a moderating influence on regional markets, especially ASEAN and adjacent Chinese provinces. Therefore, while Vietnam is not yet a global price‐setter, it is becoming a regional price stabiliser whose production shifts and export strategy will increasingly matter for price trends in East and Southeast Asia.

Future Outlook

Looking ahead to 2032, the Vietnam duck meat market is expected to experience sustained growth with volume forecast to reach ** thousand tonnes by 2032, representing a CAGR of around 4.6% from the 2024 base year. Value is projected to exceed US$ ** million, driven by higher unit pricing, premiumisation and export expansion.

Export volumes will grow at an estimated 7% per annum through 2028, before moderating to 5% per annum through 2032 as market saturation in neighbouring Asian markets begins. On the domestic front, per-capita consumption of duck meat is forecast to rise to about 3.5 kg by 2030, with urban segments showing stronger growth. Processed duck meat formats are expected to account for nearly **% of total industry revenue by 2032 as retail and convenience demand expands. Key enablers of this outlook include improved genetics, greater use of commercial feed blends, enhanced biosecurity and investment in export-oriented processing.

Conversely, constraints such as feed cost inflation, labour shortages, disease outbreaks and infrastructure bottlenecks will temper upside but are increasingly manageable. From an investment and policy perspective, emphasis on export diversification, value‐added processing, sustainable feed sourcing and consolidation of producer networks will determine which players lead in the next decade. Overall, Vietnam is set to transition from a regional niche to a meaningful player in Asia’s duck meat supply chain, with steady, export-driven growth, premium product development and resilient market fundamentals through 2032.