Export of agricultural products prospered at the beginning of the year

The first shipment of processed fruit for export to Europe, Korea, Japan, Russia and the Middle East in 2022 was carried out by the Dong Nai province's functional departments on January 5. Photo: ST

Lots of good news

On January 5, 2022, Dong Nai Department of Agriculture and Rural Development coordinated with Long Khanh City to organize a ceremony to export processed agricultural products to Dong Nai province in early 2022.

Accordingly, Luong Gia food technology Joint Stock Company (Long Khanh industrial zone, Long Khanh city) exported five containers equivalent to about 95 tons of dried fruit to the EU, Russia, Korea and Middle East markets.

On January 6, 2022, at the port of Ho Chi Minh City, the international ship DONG HONG loaded 11,111 tons of rice from Trung An Hi-tech Agriculture Joint Stock Company.

Mr. Pham Thai Binh, General Director of Trung An Hi-tech Agriculture Joint Stock Company, said that the 11,111 tons of rice that won the bid by enterprises to sell to Korea was brown rice (only husked) for US$574/ton (CIF price delivered at Ulsan port, Korea). After deducting costs, the rice lot is priced at about $460/ton (FOB price), almost as high as 5% broken white rice.

"The delivery in the first days of 2022 is a good sign, creating momentum to accelerate the export of high-quality rice to Vietnam's fastidious market this year," the businessman said.

Not only familiar products such as processed fruits, rice, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) of Hoa Binh province coordinated with the Department of Agricultural Product Processing and Market Development (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) and Kim Boi Joint Stock Company (Vai area, Ba Hang Doi town, Lac Thuy district, Hoa Binh province) also held the first ceremony to export agricultural products to the Japanese market in 2022 with processed bamboo shoots and vermicelli.

Accordingly, 28 tons of goods have passed strict quarantine requirements, ensuring the best quality standards to be exported.

The joy continues in the days of the Lunar New Year of the Tiger in 2022 (early February 2022) when the export of fruit to China opens. According to the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, since February 3, 2022 (on the 3rd day of the Lunar New Year), many containers of bananas, dragon fruits, etc. have been exported to China.

On the morning of February 3, 2022, Huu Nghi international border gate and Tan Thanh border gate (Lang Son province) officially reopened after the 2022 Lunar New Year holiday. It took place three days earlier at both border gates.

According to preliminary statistics in January 2022, Vietnam's fruit and vegetable exports reached nearly US$301 million, up 0.3% compared to December 2021, the peak export month of the year.

"According to the annual practice in the spring, fruit prices will be high because China still has a cold season, domestic goods are few, and it is necessary to import fruits in large quantities," said Dang Phuc Nguyen, General Secretary of the Vietnamese Vegetable Association.

Many chances

The export of many agricultural products is forecast to be relatively positive. With rice, Ms. Dang Thi Lien, Director of Long An Food Company, said that in 2022 there are many opportunities for Vietnamese rice exports because the global demand increases. Besides, the quality of Vietnamese rice is favored by consumers in many countries. Notably, in addition to traditional markets such as the Philippines, China, Malaysia, the US, African countries, South Korea, rice exports to the EU are expected to increase sharply in 2022 thanks to the support of the EU-Vietnam free trade agreement. (EVFTA).

A representative of the Import-Export Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade) added that in 2022, Vietnam's rice exports to the EU are expected to increase significantly. The quality of Vietnamese rice has improved, mainly aromatic rice varieties, meeting the tastes of European consumers. Taking advantage of the EVFTA to export fragrant rice with 0% tax is in the hands of enterprises with large raw material areas, cultivated to high standards such as Loc Troi, Tan Long, Trung An.

Similarly, for coffee, a representative of the Import and Export Department said, in 2021, despite the negative impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, Vietnam's coffee export value recorded a two-digit growth rate thanks to the increase in export prices. It is forecast that Vietnam's coffee exports in 2022 will continue to be positive thanks to abundant supply, FTAs ​​creating competitive advantages for Vietnamese coffee and export prices likely to remain high.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in 2022, the agriculture and rural development industry will continue to have many opportunities, but also face challenges such as the Covid-19 pandemic changes demand and consumption patterns, requiring an appropriate transformation in production and restructuring of distribution channels, connect supply and demand for agricultural, forestry and fishery products.

From the perspective of commercial development, promoting consumption, and increasing the export of agricultural, forestry and fishery products, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has determined to improve quality, increase competitiveness and market access for agricultural products; increase the export of agricultural products with advantages and markets; expanding the official export market of key products.

Along with that, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development also accelerated the negotiation process to expand export markets to EU countries under the EVFTA and countries under the FTA Vietnam - Eurasian Economic Union (VN-EAEU FTA), paying attention to the Russian market and other potential markets.

Notably, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan stated that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is consulting with Vietnamese embassies and Trade Offices abroad, firstly the EU and China to develop a sustainable agricultural product export scheme, without waiting until the new season to collect agricultural products for export, but to create a standardized material area.

"The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will build an association alliance of agricultural export units, for the first time with the participation of logistics enterprises to coordinate to reduce intermediary costs," Minister Le Minh Hoan said.