According to data from General Department of Customs, in March 2024, rattan, bamboo, sedge and carpet product group set the highest record in the past 2 years, reaching 85 million USD, an increase of 79.9% compared to February 2024 and an increase of 35.4% over the same period in 2023. Overall, in the first 3 months of 2024, exports of rattan, bamboo, sedge and carpet products reached 212.07 million USD, an increase of 28.3% over the same period 2023.
This is a good sign because in February 2024, this product group decreased sharply due to extended Lunar New Year holiday, reaching only 47.26 million USD, down 40.7% compared to January 2024; down 16.7% over the same period in 2023.
According to Import-Export Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade), except for a period of February, rattan, bamboo, sedge and carpet products grew steadily in early 2024. Most recently, in a period from 5-19 March 2024, this product reached a turnover of 37.83 million USD, an increase of 14.5% compared to the previous period (from February 20 to March 5, 2024).
Previously, for the whole year 2023, this group of products earned more than 733 million USD for Vietnam, down 10.4% compared to the same period in 2022. Decrease compared to 2022 gradually narrowed through the last months of the year saw an improvement in exports.
In terms of structure, carpet export turnover reached 22.89 million USD, an increase of 20.7% compared to the previous period; water hyacinth reached 5.45 million USD, an increase of 26.8%; woven bamboo reached 2.77 million USD, up 4.4%; woven sedge reached 2.12 million USD, up 2.7%; Rattan reached 1.53 million USD, an increase of 28.6%.
In past period, rattan, bamboo, sedge and carpet products were exported to 59 markets; Of which, mainly exports to the United States reached 14.48 million USD, an increase of 8.4%; UK reached 2.75 million USD, up 30.4%; Japan reached 2.26 million USD, up 3.1%; Spain reached 2.19 million USD, up 9.1%.
Thanks to contribution of rattan, bamboo, rush and carpet products, export of wood and wooden products in the first quarter of 2024 reached 3.4 billion USD, an increase of 18.9% over the same period in 2023. Currently, orders at many enterprises have recovered up to 80 - 90%. Some enterprises have orders until mid-2024.
In 2024, global trade outlook is not forecast to be very good. However, positive signs of recovery from some key markets such as the United States, EU... have brought optimism to Vietnam's wooden furniture and handicraft export industry.

Source: Vitic/ congthuong.vn