Prospects for export of agricultural, forestry and fishery products 2018

With the success in 2017, the Agriculture sector set a total of export value of agricultural, forestry and fishery products to reach 37-38 billion in 2018. This is considered a feasible target, but the agricultural sector also needs to improve the quality of products in order to increase added value instead of exporting mainly raw materials.

Shrimp export turnover reached USD 3.9 billion (up 22.3%) in 2017. Photo: Nguyen Hue.

Agricultural products are positive

The total of $ 37-38 billion export value set by the Agriculture sector, the agricultural commodity group is expected to contribute $ 20 billion. According to Mr Nguyen Nhu Cuong, Deputy Director of the Department of Crop Production (MARD): in 2018, Cultivation Department has outlined solutions as well as production plans for each major crop group. Specifically, rice will focus on producing high quality seedlings to improve quality as well as increase price in the domestic and export market; strengthen the application of mechanization in production from sowing to harvesting, preservation and processing to reduce costs and improve production efficiency. For some other industrial crops such as coffee, cashew, tea, pepper ..., the basic view is to keep the current area, especially rubber trees, they are gradually reducing the area of rubber on land that isn’t suitable and we maintain the area of rubber to 2020 for about 950 thousand hectares. With pepper, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development focus on agro-forestry development, intercropping to save water for irrigation and sustainable development. At the same time, keeping good control of food safety on pepper, especially prohibited drugs.

Some experts said, the situation of export of many agricultural products this year is relatively favorable. The typical example is cashew nuts. In 2017, Vietnam cashew industry marked the 12th consecutive year to hold the world No. 1 in processing and exporting cashew kernel. According to the Vietnam Cashew Association, in 2018, the association will continue to accompany with farmers and businesses, encourage green and clean production, widen processing, develop the domestic market and support export to improve value of commercial to about 3.5 - 3.7 billion USD.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, there are many orders of cashew nuts have been signed until mid April -2018. In the US market, cashews are considered healthy snacks, are being processed to become substitutes for butter and milk. In India, the largest market for cashew nuts, a part of middle-class also favors adding cashew nuts to biscuits and sweets for weddings and birthdays.

Forestry, seafood is highly competitive

Not only agricultural products, forest products and seafood exports are also seen to be relatively optimistic in 2018. In recent years, export of wood and wood products has been growing steadily, about 10-15% per year. In 2018, the forestry sector set a target to increase the value of forestry production from 6.2 to 6.5%; Export turnover reached $ 8.2 billion. This year, the whole sector will focus on finalizing guiding documents and organizing the implementation of the Forest Law; improving productivity, quality and promoting the value of each type of forest, develop multifunctional forestry, plant large timber forests, valuable timber and non-timber forest products; strictly controlling the change of forest use purposes, raising the assurance of supply of raw material wood for the processing industry to meet the needs of domestic and export.

Talking to the reporter of Customs, Mr. Nguyen Ton Quyen, Vice President and Secretary General of Vietnam Wood and Forest Product Association, said that in the current context, the target set by the forestry sector is low. Since the end of the fourth quarter of 2017, the wood processing and exporting enterprises have signed 50-60% of orders in 2018. Wood export and wood products this year are very positive, and should at least reach about $ 8.5-8,6 billion. "In 2018, exports of wood and wood products to the key markets such as the United States, Japan, EU, South Korea will increase. Specifically, export to the US market is expected to reach $ 2.8 billion, Japan about $ 1.1-1.2 billion, Korea and the EU are about $ 700-800 million. In addition, exports of wood and wood products in new markets such as India and Turkey are also quite good. Besides, there are many markets such as Russia, Middle East countries, Northern Europe ... also start importing wood of Vietnam ", said Mr. Quyen in his analysis.

Regarding seafood export, although there is not expected to be strong growth for exports of wood and wood products, this sector also strives to increase the value of aquaculture production from 5.3 to 5.8% and seafood export turnover reached 8.5 billion USD (up 1.2% compared with estimated in 2017). According to representative of the General Directorate of Fisheries (MARD), the above objectives are set in the context of the world economy on the momentum of growth, the needs of consumption increase, including aquatic products. However, in addition to the application of technical measures to limit trade competition, the trend is that import markets will continue to improve standards of quality, food safety and hygiene (including traceability and clean farming practices)

In 2018, In order to achieve the set target, the fisheries sector will be oriented towards comprehensive development of aquaculture; encouraging the adoption in large scale, applying technology and good farming practice (GAP); restructure frozen products in the direction of reducing the proportion of primary products, increasing the proportion of products with added value; organize chain link from farming, processing to exporting pangasius. In addition, the sector also focuses on promoting offshore fishing as well as protect resources and contribute to the protection of island sovereignty; strictly observing the regulations on catching and traceability of seafood, especially solving the issue of "yellow card" of the EU soon and harmonizing of regulations on fisheries control in accordance with international practices ...

Enhance added value

Talking to reporters Customs Newspaper about the situation of import and export of goods in general and fishery in particular in 2018, Minister of Industry and Trade, Mr Tran Tuan Anh said that besides the advantages, there are many difficulties and challenges from unpredictable developments and instability of the international situation for Vietnam export. Specifically, the economic and trade policies of major economies such as the United States and the European Union, can be changed quickly with multi-dimensional impact. Geopolitical tension in many places can affect world finance, affect prices of raw materials as well as reduce demand for consumer goods. In addition, the global supply of agricultural products continues to increase while many countries promote production, towards reducing dependence on import the trend of protection is increasing. For agricultural and fishery groups, the supply has basically reached the threshold, it is difficult to grow in terms of export volume. Along with that, the dependence on imported raw materials of some commodities also leads to lack of initiative, increasing costs, depending on the import price.

Around this issue, some experts also commented: in fact, despite the relatively good growth, especially in 2017, Vietnam's export of agricultural and forestry products generally based on raw materials export, focusing on increasing of quantity rather than added value. In 2018 as well as in the future, in order to develop sustainably, the important task is to focus on improving product quality, developing technology of processing and increasing added value for goods in the international market.