Vietnam has opened its markets to Irish beef imports, Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon and Minister of State Noel Grealish announced on Monday.
The southeastern Asian country is the 14th most populated in the world with a population of 100m.
“Vietnam was designated as a priority market for access to Irish beef and my Department has been very active in pursuit of this objective,” Minister Heydon said.
Minister Heydon welcomed the move as having been helped by engagement at “political, diplomatic and official levels”.
“I visited Vietnam in September 2022 and met with the agriculture minister, while I hosted the vice minister the following year.
“I used these opportunities to advance the case for Irish beef to achieve access to this important market.”
The minister pointed towards Vietnam’s years of rapid economic growth, rising levels of disposable income and its shift towards eating out as factors leading to an increased demand for beef.
He said that the Irish beef industry had singled Vietnam out as one of its priority markets for beef access, adding that there is a “real opportunity for the industry to build on”.
Beef now in over 70 markets
Minister Grealish said that the Vietnamese government’s decision represents an acknowledgement of “Ireland’s high food safety standards”.
Positive progress on beef access to Vietnam was flagged during a St Patrick’s Day 2025 visit to the country, said the junior minister, who has responsibility for food promotion and new markets.
Minister of State Noel Grealish speaking with Vietnam's vice minister for agriculture Hoang Trung during 2025's St Patrick's Day visit.
“Since then, officials in both countries have worked together to agree the conditions under which trade can take place, culminating in this very positive outcome.
“The expansion of markets for Irish beef is crucial for the further development of our beef sector.”
Minister Grealish stated that Irish beef now has access to over 70 markets and that Government is “actively working” on gaining access to new markets.
“Every new international market increases the economic sustainability of our beef sector and positively impacts on family farms and employment in rural Ireland adding value sustainably into the future,” the Minister of State said.
“This announcement is the culmination of a lengthy process and complements the existing access Ireland has for pigmeat.”
The CEO of Bord Bia Jim O’Toole stated that “Vietnam represents a large and promising market” for Irish beef exports.
“This is an important step that underlines the importance of continuing to open markets and develop new opportunities for Irish food and drink exports,” O’Toole said.
Bord Bia is to now commission research into the Vietnamese market.
Vietnam has opened its markets to Irish beef imports, Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon and Minister of State Noel Grealish announced on Monday.
The southeastern Asian country is the 14th most populated in the world with a population of 100m.
“Vietnam was designated as a priority market for access to Irish beef and my Department has been very active in pursuit of this objective,” Minister Heydon said.
Minister Heydon welcomed the move as having been helped by engagement at “political, diplomatic and official levels”.
“I visited Vietnam in September 2022 and met with the agriculture minister, while I hosted the vice minister the following year.
“I used these opportunities to advance the case for Irish beef to achieve access to this important market.”
The minister pointed towards Vietnam’s years of rapid economic growth, rising levels of disposable income and its shift towards eating out as factors leading to an increased demand for beef.
He said that the Irish beef industry had singled Vietnam out as one of its priority markets for beef access, adding that there is a “real opportunity for the industry to build on”.
Beef now in over 70 markets
Minister Grealish said that the Vietnamese government’s decision represents an acknowledgement of “Ireland’s high food safety standards”.
Positive progress on beef access to Vietnam was flagged during a St Patrick’s Day 2025 visit to the country, said the junior minister, who has responsibility for food promotion and new markets.
Minister of State Noel Grealish speaking with Vietnam's vice minister for agriculture Hoang Trung during 2025's St Patrick's Day visit.
“Since then, officials in both countries have worked together to agree the conditions under which trade can take place, culminating in this very positive outcome.
“The expansion of markets for Irish beef is crucial for the further development of our beef sector.”
Minister Grealish stated that Irish beef now has access to over 70 markets and that Government is “actively working” on gaining access to new markets.
“Every new international market increases the economic sustainability of our beef sector and positively impacts on family farms and employment in rural Ireland adding value sustainably into the future,” the Minister of State said.
“This announcement is the culmination of a lengthy process and complements the existing access Ireland has for pigmeat.”
The CEO of Bord Bia Jim O’Toole stated that “Vietnam represents a large and promising market” for Irish beef exports.
“This is an important step that underlines the importance of continuing to open markets and develop new opportunities for Irish food and drink exports,” O’Toole said.
Bord Bia is to now commission research into the Vietnamese market.
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