Vietnam plywood export 2026 review shows a sector in transition: overall wood and wood product exports grew steadily through the first nine months of the year, while the market mix shifted toward China, the EU, and other Asian destinations as the US market faced tariff pressure. For international buyers, understanding this 2026 performance is essential to planning a resilient sourcing strategy for 2027.
Vietnam's wood and wood product exports reached an estimated US$13.43 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 7.3% year on year, with the full-year target projected to exceed US$18 billion for wood products and around US$19 billion including non-wood forest products. Within this broader sector, plywood remains a key category, with Vietnam consolidating its position as one of the world's leading plywood exporters.
This guide reviews Vietnam plywood export performance in 2026, examines the 2027 outlook and market forecast, and outlines what international buyers should consider when planning sourcing for the year ahead.
Buyers sourcing plywood from Vietnam need to understand not just current prices, but the underlying market dynamics that shape supply, compliance, and logistics in the year ahead.
That is why reviewing 2026 performance and the 2027 outlook helps buyers make more informed sourcing decisions.
Vietnam's plywood export performance in 2026 reflects a mix of steady overall growth, shifting destination mix, and rising compliance pressure. Below is a detailed review of the key trends.
In the first nine months of 2026, Vietnam's wood and wood product exports reached an estimated US$13.43 billion, up 7.3% year on year. The full-year target is projected to exceed US$18 billion for wood products, with total forest product exports (including non-wood items) expected to reach around US$19 billion.
This steady growth reflects resilience in the sector despite headwinds in the US market and volatility in global demand.
The United States remained Vietnam's largest wood export destination in 2026, accounting for close to half of total sector value, though shipments declined 5.8% in the first seven months due to tariff and trade remedy pressure. Meanwhile, China surged 46.4% to become the second-largest market, overtaking Japan in the ranking.
This shift toward China and the EU reflects a deliberate diversification strategy as Vietnam reduces reliance on the US market.
Vietnam's plywood exports to the EU benefited from the EVFTA (EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement), which allows Vietnamese plywood to enter the EU at 0% duty with a valid Certificate of Origin. This made the EU a strategic priority as US tariff investigations advanced.
This EVFTA advantage positions Vietnam to capture growing European demand, especially as European construction recovers and buyers seek alternatives to higher-tariff sources.
The US market faced significant headwinds in 2026 due to anti-dumping and countervailing duty investigations on Vietnamese plywood. The US Department of Commerce issued preliminary anti-dumping determinations in March 2026, with duty rates ranging from 191.85% to 194.80% for mandatory respondents, potentially reaching 208.88% when combined with countervailing duties.
This tariff pressure is a key factor pushing Vietnamese exporters to diversify toward the EU, China, Japan, and other markets.
Compliance requirements tightened in 2026, with EUDR (EU Deforestation Regulation), CARB-P2, and FSC certification becoming more central to buyer sourcing decisions.
Suppliers who cannot provide this documentation face growing barriers to market access, especially in the EU and US.
Looking ahead to 2027, Vietnam's plywood export sector is expected to continue its diversification strategy while managing tariff risk and rising compliance requirements.
Vietnam's wood industry is actively reducing its reliance on the US market, which accounted for over 50% of total export value in 2026 (approximately US$9.5 billion out of US$22–24 billion in total US wood product imports). The 2027 strategy focuses on expanding into China, Japan, and FTA markets like the EU and Canada.
This diversification reduces concentration risk for both Vietnamese exporters and their international buyers.
The EU is expected to remain a strong growth market for Vietnamese plywood in 2027, driven by the EVFTA duty advantage, European construction recovery, and buyer interest in alternatives to higher-tariff sources.
Suppliers with strong EUDR and FSC documentation are best positioned to capture this growth.
China's 46.4% surge in 2026 is expected to continue into 2027, driven by domestic demand for plywood in construction, furniture, and packaging applications.
This sustained Chinese demand supports overall sector growth but also creates capacity competition for other buyers.
Japan remained a significant market in 2026 with positive growth (over US$730 million in first 4 months, up ~6%), and imports from Vietnam nearly doubled to 19,400 cubic metres in a recent period, while shipments from China fell.
Japan's preference for high-quality, compliant products favors Vietnamese suppliers with strong QC systems and certifications.
Despite positive overall outlook, several risks could affect Vietnam plywood exports in 2027.
Buyers should plan for these risks by diversifying suppliers, confirming compliance documentation early, and locking in lead times ahead of peak demand periods.
When planning plywood sourcing from Vietnam for 2027, international buyers should clarify the following points.
For example, a buyer in the EU should prioritize EUDR compliance and FSC certification, while a buyer in the US should clarify tariff exposure and CARB-P2 compliance. A buyer in Japan should focus on quality consistency and LVL/birch plywood capability.
Buyers can create unnecessary risk when they assume market conditions are static or treat compliance as a one-time check.
These mistakes can lead to capacity mismatches, compliance gaps, or unexpected cost increases. A forward-looking approach reduces uncertainty.
Buyers can plan their 2027 plywood sourcing strategy through five criteria: market fit, compliance readiness, capacity and lead time, tariff exposure, and supplier diversification.
Confirm which market you are sourcing for and which product categories and certifications apply to that market.
Verify whether the supplier has the required certifications and traceability documentation ready before you need them.
Check current production capacity and lead times, especially as demand grows in China and the EU.
Assess how US trade remedy actions affect pricing and availability for US-bound shipments, and plan accordingly.
Consider spreading sourcing across multiple suppliers or markets to reduce concentration risk.
If these questions are answered clearly, buyers can make more informed sourcing decisions for 2027.
Vietnam's wood and wood product exports reached an estimated US$13.43 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 7.3% year on year, with the full-year target projected to exceed US$18 billion for wood products.
China surged 46.4% to become the second-largest market, overtaking Japan. The EU also showed strong growth, with exports reaching US$252 million in Q1 2026 (up 57% YoY) and an estimated 25–30% growth for the full year.
The US remained Vietnam's largest destination (~49.9% share), but shipments declined 5.8% in the first seven months due to tariff and trade remedy pressure, with preliminary anti-dumping duties ranging from 191.85% to 194.80%.
The 2027 outlook is positive, with continued diversification toward China, Japan, EU, and Canada, supported by the EVFTA duty advantage in the EU and sustained Chinese demand. However, tariff risk and compliance requirements remain key challenges.
Key requirements include EUDR (for EU market access), CARB-P2 (for US market), and FSC Chain of Custody certification. Buyers should confirm documentation early, not wait until shipment.
Buyers can reduce risk by diversifying suppliers and markets, confirming compliance documentation early, locking in lead times ahead of peak demand, and monitoring tariff developments closely.
Price direction depends on raw material costs, capacity utilization, and tariff developments. Growing demand in China and the EU could tighten supply and support prices, while tariff pressure on US-bound shipments could create pricing pressure in that market.
Vietnam plywood export 2026 review shows a sector in transition, with strong overall growth, shifting destination mix, and rising compliance requirements shaping the path to 2027.
If you are sourcing plywood or LVL from Vietnam and want to plan a resilient 2027 sourcing strategy, FOMEX GLOBAL can help discuss market outlook, compliance requirements, capacity, and logistics for your specific needs.
Request Quotation / RFQ →
Email: qc@fomexgroup.vn ☎ +84 877 034 666