LUBBOCK, TX – Vietnam’s purchases of U.S. corn surged after the U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council introduced a sustainability and traceability program aimed at giving overseas buyers more information about American production practices. The Council says imports climbed from just over 5,000 metric tons in 2023/24 to 1.09 million tons in 2024/25.
The shipments were valued at $256 million, with about 97% carrying a Record of Sustainability under the Corn Sustainability Assurance Protocol. The documentation provides buyers with traceability information without incurring a fee.
The Council says that combination has helped U.S. corn compete in Vietnam’s cost-sensitive feed market, where buyers increasingly consider sustainability alongside price and quality.
For U.S. growers, the expansion represents more than one million metric tons of additional demand in a market that had previously purchased little American corn.
The Council estimates that $50,000 in federal market-development funding supported $251 million in sustainable corn exports during 2025, highlighting Vietnam as a rapidly growing outlet for U.S. production.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Vietnam’s rapid increase in U.S. corn purchases shows traceability programs can help growers compete for new export demand.