Most notably, the average export price of pepper reached roughly US$3,184 per tonne, marking a sharp decline of 29.7% against the same period from last year.
China and the United States make up the major importers of Vietnamese pepper with a market share of 35% and 16% respectively of the total export volume during the initial five-month period.
This sharp fall can be attributed to the fact that there has been weak purchasing power in both the US and EU market.
Furthermore, the EU's decision on not importing agricultural products grown on land from deforestation has also impacted Vietnam's recent pepper exports.
Industry insiders point out that the drop in export price can be attributed to weak global demand, pressure from the rising US dollar, and the US Federal Reserve (Fed)’s adjustment of interest rates
Currently, pepper exports to the US, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), India, Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, and the Republic of Korea have all decreased between 20% and 70% over the past several months.
According to information given by experts, pepper exports are anticipated to continue to face difficulties due to the slow recovery of major markets and the amount of inventory from the previous year causing importers to reduce their purchase of Vietnamese pepper products.
Tuyen Lam to become Vietnam's first UNESCO-recognised outstanding Asia-Pacific tourism area
The Tuyen Lam Lake National Tourism Area in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong has met all UNESCO criteria to become an outstanding tourism area in Asia-Pacific, stated a notification from the President of the Vietnam Federation of UNESCO Associations.
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| A view of Tuyen Lam Lake (Photo: VNA) |
According to the notification, Tuyen Lam will officially receive the title during the Vietnam-India cultural and economic exchange and a ceremony to honour intellectuals, managers, scientists, social activists, entrepreneurs and businesses in Asia-Pacific in New Delhi on August 3.
Talking with Vietnam News Agency, Nguyen Quoc Tuyen, Director of the Management Board of the area, said that Tuyen Lam Lake is the first site of Vietnam to receive the title, and the only one in Asia to be honour this time.
The official said that dossiers to register for the title was submitted to the UNESCO in March.
Tuyen Lam Lake, 6km south of Da Lat, a famous tourist destination of Lam Dong, has a water surface of 350ha. It was created by Tia stream - head water of Da Tam river. No one knows when and why it was called Tuyen Lam, but maybe because of the grandiose nature around it - stream and forest were close to each other. Tuyen stands for stream, and Lam stands for forest. Tuyen Lam is a place for water and trees meeting each other.
The lake and its surrounding have fresh air, tranquil atmosphere and diversified natural landscape. It will become a big attraction with unique types of tourism such as sight-seeing, camping, health caring, trekking, mountaineering, fishing, visiting revolutionary base and other activities for sport and recreation, especially eco-tourism.
Viewed from a cable car or seen from above, Tuyen Lam is as a miniature ocean with each oasis on the lake is a continent. One will feel the immensity between sky and water surface and discover a very different Da Lat.
Students bag four medals at Int'l Chemistry Olympiad 2023
All four Vietnamese students claimed medals, including three golds and one silver, at the International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) 2023, reported Vietnam News Agency according to information from the Ministry of Education and Training on July 25.
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| All four Vietnamese students claim medals at the International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) 2023 held in Switzerland from July 16-25 (Photo: VNA) |
The gold medals went to Dinh Cao Son from Ha Tinh province’s Ha Tinh High School for Gifted Students, Nguyen Kim Giang from Bac Ninh province’s Bac Ninh High School for Gifted Students, and Nguyen Manh Khoi from High School for Gifted Students of the University of Science under the Vietnam National University, Hanoi.
The silver medal was secured by Mai Van Duc from Nghe An province’s Phan Boi Chau High School for Gifted Students.
IChO 2023 took place in Switzerland from July 16-25 with the participation of 348 contestants from 89 countries and territories worldwide. The Vietnamese team ranked third among the participating countries in terms of the number of gold medals.
In previous editions, Vietnam won four gold medals in 2020, three golds and one silver in 2021, and four golds in 2022.
Vietnamese passion fruit, coconut get green light to enter Australia, China
Fresh Vietnamese passion fruit and coconut have huge export opportunities to Australia and China via official channels, reported the Voice of Vietnam according to the Plant Protection Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
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| Fresh Vietnamese passion fruit sees bright prospects for export to Australia |
The Plant Protection Department received a notice from the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) regarding the draft report on import requirements for fresh Vietnamese passion fruit in the market.
The DAFF said that fresh Vietnamese passion fruit may be allowed to be imported into the Australian market providing that the fruit fully complies with biosecurity requirements.
The DAFF report also identified 11 pests that pose a biosecurity risk, including fruit flies, aphids, spider mites, and thrips. In order to reduce these risks, the report proposes a number of risk management measures, including the establishment of pest-free production regions.
Furthermore, the application of irradiation treatment is widely considered to be an effective measure with regard to the management of fruit fly species.
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| Photo: Vietnam Trade Office in Australia |
Meanwhile, the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) also unveiled that it would conduct a field inspection for Vietnamese planting regions and packaging facilities of fresh coconuts registering for export to the Chinese market.
The move aims to complete a pest risk analysis for fresh coconuts and provide a basis for the signing of the protocol moving forward.
Accordingly, the GACC’s examination will take place in mid-August via an online platform, field inspection, and relevant documents.
This is considered to be a positive sign for Vietnamese agricultural products as they seek to expand markets, said the Plant Protection Department.
Localities are required to urgently review coconut growing areas and packaging facilities, as well as preparing sufficient dossiers and documents for the upcoming inspection./.