Only three-quarters of the year has passed, but the agricultural sector has completed 84% of its annual target.

According to data, by the end of the third quarter, the total export turnover of agricultural, forestry and fishery products had reached 46.3 billion USD, an increase of 21% over the same period last year. Only 3/4 of the year has passed, but the agricultural sector has completed 84% of the year's target.

Our country's main export products all have positive results. Of which, vegetables and coffee are two products with strong growth, with nearly 40% over the same period.

In terms of markets, the United States took the lead with a market share of more than 21%, China 20% and Japan 6.6%. Compared to the same period last year, the export value of Vietnam's agricultural, forestry and fishery products to these three markets all increased by 10-20%.

Expanding fruit and vegetable export markets

According to the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, fruit and vegetable exports in the past 9 months have reached nearly 5.7 billion USD. This is a record high, equal to the value of the whole last year. Of which, durian alone earned 2.5 billion USD. Other fruits such as dragon fruit, banana, jackfruit and mango also contributed significantly to export growth. This result was achieved thanks to the active opening and market penetration of domestic enterprises.

The Vietnam Fruit Festival has just taken place for the first time in Beijing, China. Nearly 30 large enterprises exporting fruit to this market participated in the festival to find opportunities to accelerate exports to the supermarket system and large wholesale markets in Northern China - where Thai fruit is dominant. The potential to exploit the Chinese market is still very large because currently Vietnamese fruit is mainly exported and consumed in the southern provinces adjacent to Vietnam.

Mr. Vu Ba Phu - Director of the Department of Trade Promotion, Ministry of Industry and Trade commented: "We can better promote the names and unique flavors of Vietnamese fruits to the Chinese people, especially the people in the deep North and Central regions of China - where people have high incomes and are a valuable market in China".

Ms. Ngo Tuong Vy - General Director of Chanh Thu Fruit Import-Export Group said: "A brand is a mark that people love. How to stabilize product quality so that consumers trust Vietnamese products so that when they think of durian, they immediately think of Vietnamese durian".

The Chinese market ranks first in the consumption of Vietnamese fruits and vegetables with more than 65% market share. The next two largest fruit and vegetable export markets are the United States and South Korea with market shares of 4.8% and 4.5% respectively.

These figures will increase even more if the issue of codes for growing areas and packing facilities is resolved quickly and effectively. To date, the country has only issued about 708 codes for durian growing areas with nearly 24,000 hectares, reaching less than 7% of the total production area. The lack of this important passport will hinder the growth of the entire fruit and vegetable industry.

Mr. Nguyen Van Muoi - Deputy General Secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association commented: "The role of local associations such as the Farmers' Association, the Cooperative Union... also creates conditions to help people in breeding, have enough area as well as conditions to complete the issue of registering codes for growing areas".

It is expected that Vietnam's fruit and vegetable exports this year will reach a turnover of more than 7 billion USD, of which 4.5-5 billion USD will be in the Chinese market. Experts predict that Vietnamese fruits and vegetables have the potential to reach an export milestone of 15 billion USD by 2030.

Export challenges at the end of the year

Agricultural, forestry and fishery exports this year are forecast to soon reach the target of 55 billion USD. However, difficulties and challenges in the final months of the year still exist. Storms, natural disasters have caused damage in the past, a decrease in raw material sources or continued high shipping costs will be issues that need to be resolved to maintain the growth as achieved.

The effects of the recent storm No. 3 have caused the growth of the agricultural sector to decrease by 0.33%. More than 560,000 hectares of rice, crops, and plants were damaged, causing a decrease in supply, risking a rise in raw material prices. Meanwhile, export prices are not easy to adjust.

Mr. Phung Duc Tien - Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development commented: "Floods will affect growth as well as exports. In the agricultural sector, in the last months of the year and in 2024, with the guidance of Official Dispatch 100, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has assigned the Departments and Divisions of seeds, pesticides, fertilizers and cultivation processes to restore".

High and prolonged sea freight rates have also caused disruptions in the export of Vietnam's key products. Many businesses have been affected by reduced orders, despite stable prices.

Mr. Nguyen Van Nhut - General Director of Hoang Minh Nhut Joint Stock Company said: "The price of rice is acceptable. However, adding the freight is too high, they are very hesitant about this and do not dare to sign a large quantity".

Ms. Nguyen Thi Ly - Deputy Director of Thanh Cong Vina Import Export Company shared: "Before, a container was only around 10 USD but now it is up to 100 USD. With such freight, customers are also discouraged".

The end of the year is the time when the demand for imported food and foodstuffs from many large markets increases sharply. Early recovery of production and increased penetration into markets with close geographical distance are priorities of our country's agricultural sector to seize growth opportunities.

Source: VTV