State food reserves hit record high of 500,000 tonnes
VOV.VN - Vietnam has built a record 500,000 tonnes of national food reserves in 2025, more than doubling previous stockpiling levels, as the country strengthens food security, market stabilisation and emergency response capacity, an official said on January 23.
Nguyen Thi Pho Giang, deputy director of the Department of State Reserves under the Ministry of Finance, said at a press briefing that the 2025 reserve volume marks the largest food stockpile in the history of Vietnam’s national reserve system.
“Before 2024, the highest annual food reserve target was only about 220,000 tonnes. In 2025, the figure rose to 500,000 tonnes,” Giang said.
According to the Department of State Reserves, the 2025 total includes 220,000 tonnes under the regular annual plan, along with an additional 280,000 tonnes procured to support domestic rice prices and stabilise the market.
Giang said the expanded reserves are to support agricultural production and macroeconomic stability, and to enhance Vietnam’s readiness to respond swiftly to emergencies, including natural disasters, food supply disruptions and urgent social needs.
The Department of State Reserves said it has strictly followed technical standards and safety procedures across its nationwide storage system, ensuring the security of all reserve goods and maintaining readiness for rapid deployment.
During recent floods and natural disasters, reserve supplies were released within hours, including overnight in some cases, helping reduce damage and support affected communities.
In 2025, Vietnam released non-repayable national reserve goods worth approximately VND2.61 trillion (US$$106 million), including 128,954 tonnes of rice, equipment and materials for disaster prevention and search-and-rescue operations; and 1,271 tonnes of salt.
In 2026 the Ministry of Finance plans to procure 420,000 tonnes of food reserves. Due to budget balancing requirements, 300,000 tonnes will be purchased in the first phase, with the remaining volume to be added under supplementary plans.
Under the Prime Minister-approved National Reserve Warehouse Master Plan (2021–2030, vision to 2050), Vietnam is accelerating the construction of a smart warehouse system integrated with a national reserve monitoring and operations centre.
The system, expected to be completed by 2027, will digitise inventory management and enhance coordination in emergency response and market stabilisation efforts.
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