Strengthening dairy partnerships with New Zealand

This is an important moment for Vietnam’s dairy sector. Demand continues to grow, driven by rising incomes, urbanisation, and a stronger focus on nutrition, health and wellness, especially for children and families.

- By Scott James

Vietnam has set ambitious goals for its dairy industry through 2030, and that ambition creates real opportunity for collaboration with trusted international partners.

New Zealand understands dairy. It is central to our economy and to our trade relationship with Vietnam. Food and beverage is the largest component of New Zealand’s exports to this market, and dairy sits firmly at the heart of that partnership.

New Zealand farmers and dairy companies produce the equivalent of around two and a half servings of milk per day for approximately 90 million people each year worldwide. Almost all of that production is exported. That global experience has shaped an industry built for international markets, with a strong focus on food safety, traceability, and long-term supply reliability.

It is also a sector of real economic significance. At the end of last year, New Zealand’s dairy exports were valued at approximately $24.7 billion, making dairy our largest goods export sector. That scale reflects decades of investment in science, regulation, and systems that allow us to supply global markets consistently and responsibly.