DES MOINES, Iowa – Iowa agricultural officials welcomed over 50 members of the Vietnamese trade delegation to the Iowa State Capitol June 2 for the signing of five memoranda of understanding (MOU) between the Vietnamese feed industry and U.S. private companies.

The delegation pledged to purchase $2 billion in U.S. agricultural goods, including corn, soybeans, distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGs), wheat, meat and timber, officials said.

H.E. Do Duc Duy, Vietnam minister of agriculture and environment; Mike Naig, Iowa agriculture secretary; and Ralph Lents, Iowa Corn Promotion Board (ICPB) president, remarked on two of the MOUs that were signed specific to corn and DDGS, equaling 900,000 metric tons of U.S. corn, and 250,000 metric tons of U.S. DDGs.

Officials said the move will focus on increasing trade of U.S. grains, including corn. Of the $2 billion in total value, $800 million has been pledged to Iowa farm goods, according to Naig.

“This is a clear sign that international buyers continue to see value, reliability, and opportunity in Iowa agriculture,” he said. “I’m proud of the work we’re doing to build markets for Iowa’s high quality ag products, and to grow our rural economy through global partnerships.”

Sydney Garrett, Iowa Corn Growers Association public relations manager, told Farm World, “Vietnam has risen to become the United States’ 10th largest agricultural export market, with total exports reaching $3.44 billion in 2024, representing a compound average growth of 4.3 percent since 2015. In 2022 alone, Iowa companies exported $227 million in agricultural goods to Vietnam.”

Lents said, “Vietnam is a strategic trading partner with the United States, and is a top importer of DDGs. This event showcased an increased commitment from Vietnam to purchase more agricultural products, and reinforce the strong partnership between our countries. Iowa is the top corn-producing state, and we are happy to serve as host to our important trade partners.”

In conjunction with the U.S. Grains Council, the ICPB has been actively engaged in Vietnam for the past two years as they have evaluated the potential for ethanol in their country, officials said.

ICPB officials said in a June 2 media statement that this included hosting a high-level government delegation in Iowa last summer, showcasing the benefits of using ethanol: “If Vietnam moves to a nationwide E10 mandate across all grades of gasoline, this will be a huge win for Iowa’s corn farmers.”

Randy Miller, a Lacona, Iowa, farmer, and a U.S. Soybean Export Council Board member, told the delegation, “When you choose to buy U.S. soybeans, you’re investing in more than just a commodity; you’re investing in the trust and reliability that comes with it.”

Currently, the Vietnam government is exploring the expansion of its E5 RON92 (a type of biofuel that contains up to 5 percent ethanol, and has a Research Octane Number – or RON – of 92) mandate to all grades of gasoline, ICPB officials said. They added that this change would mean an additional 200 million gallons of new ethanol demand potential.

In addition, the Vietnam Ministry of Industry & Trade, the key policymaker and regulator for fuel in Vietnam, is working toward a nationwide E10 mandate for the policy expansion, aiming to finalize a policy decision in 2025, officials added.

Do Duc Duy said the U.S. is a promising partner for Vietnam’s agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors.

“It’s good to export high-quality agricultural, forestry, and fishery products to the U.S., especially plywood,” he said. “Second, to build sustainable cooperation areas in agriculture, including farming machinery, livestock post-harvest technology, and tech transfer.

“Vietnam is one of the countries taking global action in producing rice, coffee, cashew nuts and other products like shrimp,” he added. “We’re expanding capacity to transform quality and develop sustainable agriculture. Therefore, both sides can complement each other, developing fixed and clearly bilateral agricultural value chains.”

According to the Ohio Agribusiness Association, the Vietnamese trade delegation visited Columbus, Ohio, June 4, to sign a series of MOUs with U.S. agricultural leaders.

“Food and agriculture are Ohio’s number one industry, and we depend on our farmers to fuel our economy, and support the global food supply,” said Brian Baldridge, Ohio Department of Agriculture director, told the Vietnamese trade delegation. “We’re proud to work alongside our agricultural partners to strengthen international connections, and create new opportunities for farmers, agribusinesses, and rural communities.”