According to preliminary statistics from the General Department of Customs, up to late May 2024, agricultural export turnover to this market reached US$331.3 million, an increase of 49.7% over the same period from last year.
Coffee recorded the largest export turnover to the Russian market, with US$161.6 million, up 39% on-year. This was trailed by seafood with USS$76.4 million, an increase of 87.7 %; cashew nuts with US$28 million, a rise of 81.8%; and fruit and vegetables with US$26.8 million, up 25.2%.
Furthermore, rubber exports to this market surged by 23.8%; wood and timber products increased by 47.6%; rice exports doubled; and pepper rose sharply by 96.9%. Compared to the same period from 2023, only tea products recorded a negative growth of 12%.
Russia is not a major export market for many types of Vietnamese agricultural products. However, the past five months of the year has seen the export of agricultural products to the Russian market increase sharply.
According to details given by the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), transporting goods from the nation to Russia has become more convenient. Russian transport corporations have opened direct transport routes from Ho Chi Minh City - Hai Phong - Vladivostok (Russia). In addition, a number of other shipping companies have launched new routes, helping to transport goods faster and with shorter transit times.
Moreover, the railway transport system supports deliveries with Russia, thus diversifying freight transport models.
Tariff incentives after the country signed the Vietnam-Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement (VN-EAEU FTA) in 2015 have also helped Vietnamese agricultural products to sharpen their competitiveness in the EU market, including Russia.
Vietnam secure 12th ticket to Paris 2024 Olympics
The Vietnamese sports delegation has secured 12 official spots at the Paris 2024 Olympics, scheduled from July 26 to August 11, the Sports Authority of Vietnam under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said on June 17.
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| Archer Le Quoc Phong (Photo: VNA) |
Vietnam News Agency reported that Archer Le Quoc Phong had won the 12th ticket after advancing to the quarterfinals of the men’s individual event at the Antalya 2024 Hyundai Archery World Cup, the last qualifier prior to the Paris games that is taking place in Turkey from June 12-23.
Previously in Yecheon, the Republic of Korea (RoK), Phong made history for Vietnamese archery when entering the top four of the World Cup, which brought together all world top athletes playing an important role in earning Olympic team points.
With the 12th ticket, Vietnamese has achieved its set target of winning 12-15 slots at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Archery at the Olympics in Paris is scheduled to run over a seven-day period, from July 25 to August 4, at the Esplanade des Invalides.
The others were earned by Nguyen Thi That (bicycle), Nguyen Huy Hoang (swimming), Trinh Thu Vinh and Le Thi Mong Tuyen (shooting), Trinh Van Vinh (weightlifting), Nguyen Thi Huong (canoeing), Pham Thi Hue (rowing), Nguyen Thuy Linh and Le Duc Phat (badminton), and Vo Thi Kim Anh and Ha Thi Linh (boxing).
Quang Ninh to host ABU Robocon 2024
The ABU Asia-Pacific Robot Contest 2024 (ABU Robocon 2024) will be held at the Quang Ninh Multi-Purpose Gymnasium in the northern province of Quang Ninh’s Ha Long city from August 19-28, reported Vietnam News Agency.
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| Illustrative image (Photo: robocon2024.vtv.gov.vn) |
The contest day, which comprises qualifying and final rounds, will take place on August 25. It will be broadcast live on Vietnam Television channel 2 (VTV2), and on digital platforms of Japan’s NHK TV channel, offering an opportunity for Quang Ninh to popularise its image, people and culture to the world.
Other activities, including cultural exchanges and sightseeing tours of Ha Long Bay, will also be held within the framework of the competition.
Thirteen teams from 12 countries and territories have registered to participate in the event, including two from Vietnam.
All teams will compete under the theme "Harvest Day", inspired by terraced rice cultivation. In the competition robots compete to complete a task within a set period of time.
Founded in 2002 by Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union, the contest aims to create friendship among young people with similar interests who will lead their countries in the 21st century, as well as help advance engineering and broadcasting technologies in the region.
Last year, Japan was the winner of the grand prix of the competition, followed by Hong Kong (China). Vietnam and China finished third at the ABU Robocon 2023 which took place in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Fisheries sector sets sights on US$10 billion export target
With signs of recovery ahead in both demand and import prices in major markets, the seafood industry aims to achieve an export turnover of US$10 billion this year, reported the Voice of Vietnam according to the statistics from the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).
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| Photo: VOV |
Positive signs in key markets
During the past five months of the year, Vietnam's aquatic exports edged up 6% to reach nearly US$3.6 billion against the same period last year. The strongest export growth was recorded in crab with 84%, followed by tuna with 22%, and shellfish with 13%.
Most notably, seafood exports to the United States enjoyed robust growth with turnover soaring by 7% to US$605 million.
Aquatic exports to China, Japan, and the EU stood at the equivalent to the same period from last year, while exports to the Republic of Korea and the Middle East posted respective increases of 2% and 19% on-year.
Do Ngoc Tai, general director of Tai Kim Anh Seafood Processing Joint Stock Company, emphasised that China has surpassed the US to become the largest consumer of Vietnamese shrimp, accounting for 20% of the overall market shares.
Meanwhile, shrimp exports to several markets such as Canada, the UK, and Russia also bounced back with growth rates of 51%, 15%, and 332%, respectively.
Nguyen Thi Thu Sac, chairwoman of the VASEP, said seafood exports are predicted to reach US$4.4 billion in the first half of the year, up 6% with demand and export prices rebounding in the second half of the year.
Challenges remain
Industry insiders pointed out that despite recording a number of positive signs, the seafood industry has encountered numerous difficulties, including competitive pressure on export prices, rising input costs, and a general shortage of raw materials.
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| Photo: vneconomy.vn |
Currently, many local businesses are concerned about anti-dumping lawsuits launched by the US, while the yellow card warning against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) imposed by the European Commission (EC) remains a burden for Vietnamese firms.
Moreover, ongoing tensions in the Red Sea have continued to make transportation costs escalate, and trade conflicts among major powers and large inventories in import markets set to remain a hindrance for the sector over the remaining months of the year.
According to Truong Dinh Hoe, general secretary of the VASEP, to achieve the export target of US$10 billion this year, local enterprises are required to adjust their plans to suit the market demand.
“It is hoped that Vietnam will be recognized as a market economy in the near future, while the EC’s IUU yellow card will be lifted moving forward, which will expert a positive impact to help bolster aquatic exports during the year-end,” Hoe noted.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien proposed that the VASEP needs to regularly evaluate market developments, devise solutions, and augment co-operation with businesses as a way of further boosting market expansion./.