November 2, 2010
Vietnamese animal feed imports up by 20.5%
The General Statistic Office has estimated that Vietnam spent US$1.82 billion on imports of animal feed and material between January and October, rising 20.5% on-year.
In October, the country imported US$150 million worth of the products, falling from US$173 million, the GSO added, without giving the imported volume.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development's Department of Animal Husbandry forecast that Vietnam will need a total of 17 million tonnes of animal feed this year, but domestic firms are capable of producing 10.6 million tonnes.
The department forecast hat the country will have to import animal feeds until the next 10 years since domestic firms will still fail to meet soaring demand.
Vietnam's demand for animal feed and material will grow at least 8% and 9% in the 2009-2020 period, the department said.
Vietnam is now home to 265 animal feed producing and trading companies, with 225 of which have their own producing factories.