Vietnam Seeks Greater Timber Trade with U.S., Advances Sustainability and Traceability Goals

Vietnam’s timber industry is calling for increased imports of legal U.S. timber to support sustainable processing and re-export, ensuring compliance with international regulations and maintaining a legal supply chain. At a workshop on June 24, leaders emphasized that the U.S. remains Vietnam’s largest wood export market, accounting for 55% of its $9 billion in wood exports in 2024. Imports of U.S. timber reached $316 million, led by sawn timber, logs, and veneer.

Vietnam has banned logging in natural forests since 2014 and now relies on 3 million hectares of plantation forests and 1 million hectares of rubber plantations. Around 700,000 hectares are already FSC or PEFC certified, and the country aims to certify 70% of plantations by 2030. Tropical timber imports have dropped from over 2 million cubic meters in 2015 to just 700,000 in 2024.

Vietnam’s Timber Legality Assurance System (VNTLAS), developed under the EU-Vietnam FLEGT agreement, is moving toward licensing and aligns with upcoming EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) requirements. Both Vietnam and the U.S. have demonstrated strong regulatory compliance and dispute resolution, such as the U.S. Section 301 investigation. Officials also announced upcoming domestic regulations to enhance traceability and digital oversight of forest product sourcing.