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| Vietnam’s agro-forestry-fishery exports likely to hit 54-55 billion USD (Photo: vneconomy.vn) |
In the first quarter of this year, total export turnover from the sector was estimated at 13.53 billion USD, up 21.8% year-on-year.
Four agricultural commodities recorded an export value of over 1 billion USD each and had impressive year-on-year growth rates, including wood (2.32 billion USD, up 26.8%), vegetables and fruits (1.23 billion USD, 25.8%), rice (1.37 billion USD, 40%), and coffee (1.9 billion USD, 54.2%).
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development predicts that Vietnam will see many opportunities in rice export this year, and ship over 8 million tonnes of the grain abroad.
The Vietnam Food Association forecasts a bright outlook for rice export in 2024 as demand from major consumer markets in Southeast Asia such as Indonesia, the Philippines, and Malaysia, and China and Africa increases due to concerns that the El Nino phenomenon will last until mid-2024. Domestic rice prices are also predicted to remain high.
Vegetable and fruit exports are also expected to surpass the record set in 2023 to possibly hit 6.5 - 7 billion USD.
Recently, the Plant Protection Department requested localities and their relevant agencies to review growing areas and packaging facilities for fresh coconuts and frozen durians exported to China, with an aim to speeding up the process of opening the market for Vietnamese fresh coconuts and frozen durians to China and preparing all conditions for registration of planting area and package facility codes after the two countries sign related protocols.
If Vietnamese frozen durian and fresh coconut are allowed to be shipped to China early, fruit and vegetable exports will continue to have a strong breakthrough, said Dang Phuc Nguyen, General Secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association.
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| Vietnam's rice exports forecast to surpass 8 million tonnes this year. (Photo: VNA) |
In the first quarter, Vietnam saw an increase of 1.9% in fishery exports to 1.86 billion USD.
Experts said that the sector’s markets have not completely recovered, as there are still challenges, barriers, and competitive pressures with other countries.
Therefore, Vietnamese businesses need to be ready to face challenges and overcome barriers, and proactively seek customers from international seafood fairs and expos in the US, Europe, Japan, and the Republic of Korea to be able to recover and thrive sooner.
Two-month durian exports reach same level as entirety of 2022
By the end of February, Vietnam had exported more than 41 thousand tonnes of durian, approximately the same amount exported throughout all of 2022, said Radio the Voice of Vietnam.
Vietnamese durian exports accounted for 31.8% of China’s total import turnover of this product, according to the Plant Protection Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).
The country has currently more than 112,000 ha of durian under cultivation, accounting for 9% of its total fruit tree area, with a yearly estimated output standing at 863,000 tonnes. The main importers of this fruit include China, Thailand, Japan, and the United States.
The signed protocol on phytosanitary requirements for Vietnamese durian exported to the Chinese market has created an opportunity for the nation to develop its durian industry in a modern, quality, safe, and sustainable manner, the agency said.
According to the department, the successful entry of frozen durian products into the Chinese market will serve to create an important step forward for the Vietnamese durian industry. Indeed, the nation’s durian industry is likely to surpass Thailand and dominate the Chinese market if Vietnamese growers focus on renovating cultivation techniques and improving the quality of products, it added.
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| By the end of February, Vietnam had shipped more than 41 thousand tonnes of durian, approximately the same amount exported throughout all of 2022 (Photo:congthuong.vn) |
The General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) has so far approved 708 farming areas and 168 packaging facility codes for Vietnamese durian products.
The department has therefore asked relevant localities and agencies to intensify inspection and supervision over growing areas and packaging facilities in a bid to strictly control the overall quality of exported agricultural products, whilst timely detecting and promptly handling related violations and cases of fraud.
It also incentivizes co-operation between farmers and businesses on the principle of equality and win-win collaboration in the development of agricultural value chains with close linkages between production, processing, and consumption.
The country’s major durian-growing areas include the Central Highlands with more than 52,000 ha, which accounts for about 47% of the total area, the Mekong Delta region with 33,000 ha (about 30%), and the Southeast region with 21,000 ha (about 19%).
Last year witnessed the nation export 595,000 tonnes of durian to China, marking up 98.6% of the total durian export volume. During the two-month period, the country exported more than 41,000 tonnes.
China is widely viewed as the major export market for Vietnamese durian, accounting for more than 90% of the country's total exports. Vietnamese durian is gradually penetrating new markets such as Japan, the Republic of Korea, the US, and the EU.
Tuna exports to Poland skyrocket by 786% during two-month period
Vietnamese tuna exports to Poland during the first two months of the year surged by 786% to reach more than US$2 million against the same period from last year, Radio the Voice of Vietnam quoted the information of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).
Currently, Poland accounts for nearly 2% of Vietnam’s total tuna export turnover and is the fourth largest consumer of Vietnamese tuna within the EU.
Most notably, canned tuna and frozen tuna meat/loin are two popular product groups in the Polish market, with canned tuna being the main export item in the reviewed period, duly accounting for 91% of the total export value.
Nguyen Ha, a VASEP expert, revealed that there remains positive signs ahead for Vietnamese tuna exports to the market as Poland's tuna imports have been increasing significantly over the past four years.
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| Tuna exports to Poland skyrocket by 786% during two-month period (Photo: VOV) |
In fact, Poland is also a major provider of tuna for many EU member countries, such as Germany, Romania, and Italy.
Although the market has not yet put up technical barriers, local businesses are advised to tighten the quality of their products before exporting to this market, Ha noted.
Furthermore, firms have still encountered difficulties in terms of exporting tuna to Poland or other EU member nations due to the “yellow card” imposed by the European Commission (EC) on Vietnam for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
This move will make local firms face a general shortage of domestic raw materials and challenges when importing raw materials. Vietnamese businesses are required to diversify raw material sources of tuna to boost exports to the market in the coming time.
Da Nang to host Vietnam-ASEAN festival
The first ever Vietnam-ASEAN festival is scheduled to take place from August 3 to August 4 in the central beach city of Da Nang, said Radio the Voice of Vietnam.
The event will feature a range of traditional dishes such as phở (noodles) of Vietnam, chili crab of Singapore, and fermented tea leaf salad of Myanmar, all of which will be prepared by eateries from ASEAN member countries.
An exhibition aimed at introducing the culture and history of Vietnam and ASEAN member countries, as well as a workshop on promoting co-operation relations between Da Nang and ASEAN partners, will also get underway.
Furthermore, art performances featuring national identities of ASEAN member countries and sporting exchanges are expected to attract plenty of visitors to the function.
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| Traditional food from ASEAN countries will be presented at the festival. (Photo: VOV) |
Following this, Da Nang will also play host to the Vietnam-Japan festival from July 4 to July 7, whilst the Vietnam-Republic of Korea festival will run between August 16 and August 18.
The events aim to introduce the characteristics of culture and cuisine of the ASEAN community, Japan, and the Republic of Korea to local and international visitors, whilst simultaneously enhancing understanding, friendship, and co-operation between Vietnam and foreign countries./.