Vietnam’s livestock sector is entering a strategic transition from broad-based expansion to deeper development. The core objective is to improve quality, ensure food safety, and increase product value. In this process, slaughtering and processing industries play a central role, determining the ability to standardize products and expand markets.
THE SLAUGHTERING SYSTEM PICTURE: A “BOTTLENECK” THAT NEEDS TO BE REMOVED
According to data from the Department of Livestock Production and Animal Health, by the end of 2025 the country had 552 concentrated animal slaughter facilities, but only 45 met industrial standards (accounting for 8.15%). In contrast, there were 24,858 small-scale facilities, most of which operated spontaneously, without business registration and lacking supervision by veterinary staff. In many localities, the rate of slaughter control at small-scale facilities is only about 30%, with manual methods still dominant.
Mr. Pham Van Duy, Deputy Director General of the Department of Processing and Market Development, said the biggest challenge today is not the lack of facilities, but the slow restructuring of the slaughter system toward a concentrated and industrial model. While large enterprises have adopted modern technologies such as hanging slaughter, freezing, and HACCP or ISO standards, small-scale facilities are still struggling with traditional methods, making food safety control and environmental protection much more difficult.
PROCESSING INDUSTRY: BRIGHT SPOTS AND PARADOXES
Along with efforts to standardize the slaughter system, the meat processing industry has recorded positive progress. By 2025, the number of industrial-scale livestock product processing enterprises had reached 116, and processed meat output had also risen sharply to 1.6 million tons.
Even so, this scale still does not match the potential. The product structure remains mainly limited to chilled meat, frozen meat, and traditional products. The rate of deep processing remains low. Notably, the industry is facing certain paradoxes and limitations:
- Loose value-chain linkages: The level of domestic raw material self-sufficiency is very high (over 93%), but only about 58.5% is controlled through value-chain linkages. Raw materials are not lacking, yet production costs remain high and traceability is not firmly established.
- Limited cold-chain infrastructure: A shortage of cold storage systems, specialized vehicles, and post-slaughter preservation technology reduces access to modern retail channels.
- Barriers from consumer habits: The public’s habit of using “hot meat” remains widespread, narrowing the market share of chilled meat and ready-to-eat processed products.
- Technology gaps: Technological development levels are uneven, concentrated mainly in large enterprises, while small businesses and household producers still use outdated equipment.
VISION 2030: BUILDING A CLOSED AND SUSTAINABLE VALUE CHAIN
To thoroughly address the above limitations, Project 1740 has outlined a clear roadmap through 2030:
- Standardize slaughtering: Raise the rate of industrial concentrated slaughter to 70% for livestock and 50% for poultry; gradually eliminate small-scale facilities that do not meet veterinary hygiene standards.
- Promote deep processing: Increase the share of processed meat to 40–50%, focusing on chilled meat, standardized frozen meat, and convenience foods for export.
- Develop the cold chain: Treat cold storage infrastructure as a decisive factor in reducing losses and improving meat quality.
- Expand disease-free zones: Develop standardized raw material zones, promote electronic traceability, and form linkage clusters of “Livestock Production – Slaughter – Processing.”
By the end of 2025, the country had 3,465 certified disease-free facilities and zones. This is a solid foundation for the livestock sector to aim for export revenues of 3.0–4.0 billion USD by 2030.
The sustainable development of the slaughtering and meat processing industry requires synchronization across planning, technology, policy, and improved disease control capacity. Accompanying livestock farmers in establishing safe raw material zones and complying with strict quality standards will be the key to realizing these strategic goals.
Thuy Khanh
Source: https://nguoichannuoi.vn/
