"Sweet fruit" from opening up the market
According to a report from Ministry of Industry and Trade, in 2023, export turnover of goods is estimated to reach 355.5 billion USD, down 4.4% compared to the previous year. Among them, agricultural products are bright spot in the country's export activities.
Mr. Tran Thanh Hai - Deputy Director of Import-Export Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade) commented that 2023 is an extremely difficult year for import-export activities. In fact, a target we set has not been achieved. However, we also have bright spots when Vietnam's trade surplus still maintains and even reached a record level, the highest ever (nearly 28 billion USD).
Some products, especially agricultural products, have had a spectacular breakthrough. Specifically, rice products have achieved the largest export turnover ever. Fruit products, specifically durian, have achieved a breakthrough, showing huge export potential.
“The agricultural product group is considered to be a difficult group to access the market. If we find a direction and maintain supportive policies, we will create a breakthrough for export activities", said Mr. Tran Thanh Hai.
Mr. Pham Trung Nghia - Deputy Chief of Office of the Interdisciplinary Steering Committee for International Economic Integration - assessed, after 29 years of integration (from 1995 to present), economic growth, export growth and lives of Farmers' improvements are undeniable results due to work of opening up the market, promoting negotiations and signing free trade agreements (FTAs), new generation free trade agreements (FTAs) and institutional reform.
“It can be affirmed that, along with China, Vietnam is one of the successful countries when integrating and signing FTAs, this is reflected in export growth figures and diversification of export markets, import and attract investment. If in 1995, Vietnam's export turnover was somewhere around 5 billion USD then now it has increased 85 times. If compared since Vietnam joined World Trade Organization (WTO) (2007), Vietnam's export of goods has increased 8-9 times", Mr. Pham Trung Nghia cited.
After 5 years of implementing Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) (effective from January 14, 2019), fisheries is one of the industries that has had many positive changes thanks to taking advantage of preferential tariffs in trade with member countries.
Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) assesses that increase in exports to member countries of the CPTPP market is stronger than other markets, typically Canada, Chile, Peru, Singapore, Malaysia. Australia... Market share of Vietnamese seafood in these markets increased, showing that competitive strength has been supported thanks to the CPTPP agreement.
Specifically, in Canada, Vietnam's seafood market share has increased from 7-8% to 10%, of which shrimp alone increased from 18% to 25% and ranked No. 1; Tuna also increased from 6% to 11% and ranked 3rd. In Australia, Vietnamese shrimp holds an overwhelming market share of 70%, nearly doubling from 32% before signing the agreement.
“CPTPP is market group with the second strongest growth rate, after China. If in 2018, CPTPP market group only accounted for 25% of Vietnam's seafood exports, then by 2023 this number will account for nearly 27%", VASEP cited.
According to preliminary statistics of General Department of Customs, in 2023 the country exported nearly 8.13 million tons of rice, equivalent to nearly 4.68 billion USD. Market area within the RCEP agreement is the main export destination of our country's rice industry, reaching over 5.79 million tons, equivalent to 3.24 billion USD, an increase of 21.5% in volume, an increase of 43.2% in turnover. Exports to CPTTP markets reached 574,813 tons, equivalent to 317.78 million USD, down 0.7% in volume, up 13.4% in turnover.
Discussing this issue, Mr. Pham Trung Nghia said that the implementation of CPTPP agreement has brought many positive results to Vietnam's import and export activities in recent times. Businesses have taken good advantage that CPTPP agreement brings, despite supply chain difficulties and recent conflicts and global economic recession.
According to Ministry of Industry and Trade, Vietnam's total trade turnover of goods with countries in the European Union region in 2023 is estimated to reach 72.3 billion USD, down 5.3% compared to 2022. Of which, exports are estimated at 53.3 billion USD, down 4.7% and imports are estimated at nearly 19 billion USD, down 6.8%.
The EU is currently the 4th largest trading partner (after China, the United States, and South Korea) and the 3rd largest export market (after China and the United States), the 5th largest import market (after China), Korea, Japan, Taiwan (China) of Vietnam.
Mr. Pham Trung Nghia commented that, in context of the unstable EU market area, supply chain, trade and the EU economy facing many difficulties, export results achieved have a significant supporting role from EVFTA Agreement.
And comes from adapting to the integration game
According to National Office of Notification and Inquiry Point on Sanitary Epidemiology and Animal and Plant Quarantine in Vietnam (Vietnam SPS Office) (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), in 2023, the Office received and processed 1,164 notifications on draft new regulations and changes in food safety and animal and plant disease safety (SPS) measures of WTO members, an increase of more than 20 notifications compared to 2022. .
Increasing number of SPS notifications proves that the world market is very concerned about quality, hygiene and food safety, as well as increasingly demanding more about this issue and related factors to green growth, circular economy... The good news is that despite receiving more notifications, the number of warnings for Vietnam has decreased in the past year.
Specifically, European Union's Rapid Alert System for Food and Animal Feed Safety (RASFF) has issued 4,681 warnings to all countries/territories importing agricultural and food products, animal feed into the EU. Vietnam received 67 warnings (about 1.4%) of these, a decrease of 5 warnings (4%) compared to the same period in 2022 (72 warnings).
Also in 2023, SPS Vietnam Office continues to support businesses in meeting the regulations of Orders 248 and 249 of the General Administration of Customs of China. To date, your side has approved more than 3,000 agricultural product codes for food use for nearly 3,000 Vietnamese businesses to be allowed to import, of which about 1,500 codes belong to 18 product groups with high safety risks.
"Regulations on food safety and disease safety are mandatory to apply. It's like when participating in traffic, when you see a red light, you have to stop. If you pass a red light, it means a violation. We will be fined and it will affect those accompanying us," said Deputy Director of the SPS Office Ngo Xuan Nam.
Commenting on agricultural, forestry and fishery export results of more than 53 billion USD that the agricultural sector achieved in 2023, Mr. Le Thanh Hoa - Director of SPS Vietnam Office - assessed that after 17 years of joining the WTO, Vietnam There has been a comprehensive change, from the legal system related to food safety, animal and plant quarantine and even management agencies. Monitoring processes also approach advanced requirements.
In particular, in food processing, businesses must apply HACCP, ISO... to ensure food safety. Besides, applying good production processes to monitor all hazards during growing, harvesting, pre-processing and processing to meet market regulations.

Source: Vitic/ congthuong.vn