Insufficient output, dependence on seasons, uneven quality, and poor processing make it difficult for many Vietnamese agricultural products to stand out in foreign markets.

As a company that brings a series of OCOP agricultural products such as guava tea, dried banana with lemon syrup, wild honey, Dien grapefruit, Cao Phong orange, Tan Lac grapefruit... to Europe, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Huong, Executive Director of R.Y.B Joint Stock Company (Hoa Binh) also admitted that it is difficult to get partners to agree to import products, but it is even more difficult to maintain the position of the products and increase output.

Because the nature of agricultural products in the North is seasonal. For example, grapefruit and oranges are not harvested for export until November and December. Thus, it will be impossible to ensure the quantity of goods brought to supermarkets. Growers still think that growing is mainly for domestic sale, so they do not have the habit of professional production and cultivation.

"There are large supermarket chains that told me that they will not import seasonal products, they only import products that can be available year-round. Not to mention, the North has not specialized in growing areas, so it is not possible to ensure the uniform deliciousness and sweetness of the fruit if exporting large quantities. Sometimes only about 20% of a tree's output meets quality standards, 80% is not up to standard," said Ms. Huong.

Due to the seasonal nature of the crop, even if we switch from exporting fresh products to processed products, it is still seasonal. Meanwhile, production facilities do not innovate processing technology, if they do, it will increase the cost of the product. Therefore, there are products that this company has been exporting for 3 years but it is still difficult to build a brand, difficult to compete because there are similar products from China and Thailand with much cheaper prices.

Mr. Ngo Chung Khanh, Deputy Director of the Multilateral Trade Policy Department, Ministry of Industry and Trade, said that to build a brand for export goods, it is necessary to ensure a consistent supply. If agricultural products are only supplied for 3 months and there are no products for 9 months, no large distribution system will accept that.

Taking the example of Doveco fresh pineapple juice brand, Mr. Khanh said that they are exporting very well to the EU with their brand. Because they have built a very large growing area in Ninh Binh up to 2,600 hectares, in addition to expanding the growing area in Thanh Hoa. This helps the company ensure a stable supply of pineapple juice.

According to this person, in order for Vietnamese agricultural products to have a firm foothold in the international market, it is necessary to have the coordination of both the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Agriculture, relevant agencies in orienting the building of growing areas, innovating farming methods and having a clear trade promotion strategy.

“The important thing is to determine which industries we are capable of building brands for, not every business or product should rush into building brands. This is the task of trade and market agencies in researching and advising businesses,” said Mr. Khanh.

Building large enough growing areas and cultivating using modern methods to reduce dependence on seasons will help Vietnamese agricultural products maintain their position in export. Photo: T.L.

According to data from the General Department of Customs, Vietnam's fruit and vegetable export turnover has continuously recorded new record highs. In the first 9 months of the year, our country's fruit and vegetable export turnover reached 5.64 billion USD, an increase of 33.9% over the same period last year.

The above results are largely due to the contribution of durian exports to the Chinese market; in addition, key fruits and vegetables such as bananas, jackfruit, mangoes, watermelons, lemons, passion fruits, nuts, etc.

The Import-Export Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade) forecasts that Vietnam's fruit and vegetable exports will continue to grow in the last months of the year due to seasonal factors. In addition, Vietnamese fruits and vegetables are increasingly asserting their position in markets such as the United States, China, Korea, etc. In particular, Chinese consumers increasingly favor durian, bananas, lychees, longans, jackfruit, mangoes, and watermelons from Vietnam, thanks to the quality and characteristic flavor of tropical fruits.

However, according to Mr. Tran Thanh Hai, Deputy Director of the Import-Export Department, Vietnamese fruits are facing quite a lot of competition in the export market. Typically, in the Chinese market, many of Vietnam's main export fruits are growing quite rapidly in China.

After 10 years, China's dragon fruit growing area has surpassed Vietnam's. For durian, China is testing the planting of 2,700 hectares on Hainan Island and seeking to be self-sufficient in supply from places with favorable climates. Therefore, the fruit and vegetable industry needs to create and bring the true values ​​of Vietnamese fruits to Chinese consumers.

"Product quality, unique flavor and food safety are the core values ​​that need to be focused on developing and maintaining. When Chinese consumers are aware of these values, they will become sustainable customers, creating a solid foundation for the long-term development of the Vietnamese fruit industry," Mr. Hai recommended.

Source: Doanh Nhan Tre Viet Nam Newspaper