The Thoi bao Kinh te Vietnam (Economic Times) quoted Gerald Smith, head of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) Office of the US Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City, as saying that Vietnam is one of the US’s 15 major pork importers globally and the second largest in Southeast Asia. 

According to Smith, in the first seven months of 2018, the US shipped about 2.4 billion USD worth of agricultural products to Vietnam, with pork valued at 12 million USD, up 140 percent year-on-year. 

At this growth rate, the country’s pork export turnover to Vietnam in 2018 would be much higher than that in the previous year, he said. 

Bill Luckey, from the NPB, said the visit aims to scope out the Vietnamese market as well as demand and taste of local consumers.

US pork exported to Vietnam has, so far this year, doubled in volume and tripled in value as compared with the previous year, he said, noting that the US hopes that the business strategy would benefit both sides so that more US pork will be delivered to the Southeast Asian nation. 

Bill Luckey said US farmers aim to meet part of demand for US food of local customers, especially amidst the pork shortage and increased pork price in the country.

US pork price is competitive, he affirmed. 

Although the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) (formerly known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement) failed to sail through the US Government, the country’s pig breeders will seek the best ways to supply pork to the Vietnamese market, Bill Luckey said.

Gerald Smith underlined the safety of US products, adding that US farmers have paid attention to pig breeds and applied the most cutting-edge technologies in order to raise pork output and quality. 

During their trip, the NPB delegation carried out promotional activities at AEON supermarkets in HCM City and the southern province of Binh Duong.