Wood export turnover still has great room
According to Department of Forestry and Forest Protection (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment), global furniture trade market is about 405 billion USD/year, of which the demand for imported wood and wood products is about 230 billion USD. Currently, Vietnam’s wood and wood product export turnover reaches over 17.3 billion USD, accounting for about 7% of the global market share. This figure shows that the Vietnamese wood industry still has a lot of room to expand its market share.
Free trade agreements (FTAs) that Vietnam participates in such as CPTPP, EVFTA, UKVFTA, along with agreements with ASEAN, Japan, Korea, Chile, China, Thailand, etc., open up opportunities to access many markets with preferential tariffs. International cooperation mechanisms on legal timber exploitation and trade also help Vietnamese enterprises enhance their reputation and meet international standards.
Domestic raw material sources currently reach over 30 million m³/year, meeting about 75% of processing needs, of which the area of planted forests with FSC and PEFC sustainable management certificates is increasing, along with the issuance of planting area codes. This is an important advantage to help Vietnamese processing facilities develop sustainably and improve competitiveness.
Experience in linking businesses and forest-growing households also plays an important role. The Government and ministries have promptly removed trade barriers, supported wood exporting enterprises, and promoted sustainable development of raw material forests.
Proactively adapting to the international market
In the first 10 months of 2025, export value of wood and wood products of Vietnam reached 14 billion USD, up 6% over the same period in 2024, of which wood products reached 9.6 billion USD, up 5.2%. This result reflects efforts of wood industry in context of rising logistics costs and increasingly strict requirements on tracing origin of legal wood.
Many businesses have proactively adapted by developing green supply chains, applying sustainable forest management certification and converting products to environmentally friendly segments. Exploiting stable markets such as Japan, Canada and EU helps expand market share and increase added value.
However, Mr. Nguyen Tuan Hung, representative of Department of Forestry and Forest Protection, said that wood industry still faces many pressures: High inflation in export market, fierce competition, environmental control requirements such as Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), European Union Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products (EUDR) and the consumer trend shifting to environmentally friendly materials. In addition, tax regulations and trade investigations such as Decree 181/2025/ND-CP, Countervailing Tax and Section 232 Investigation of the United States also create additional challenges for export enterprises. Wood industry aims to have 100% of forest area of forest owners managed sustainably by 2030; upgrading 10% of natural forest area in a period of 2021-2025 and 20% in a period of 2026-2030. Output of timber exploited from planted forests strives to reach 35 million m³ by 2025 and 50 million m³ by 2030.
Processing facilities are upgraded with technology, developing high-tech forest product processing industrial parks, ensuring that over 80% of facilities reach advanced levels. At the same time, the industry implements a system of granting planting area codes, sustainable forest management certificates, strengthening control of wood traceability and limiting transit to avoid fraud.
The industry has also proposed 4 groups of solutions to promote exports. First, legal policies. Accordingly, continue to review and perfect related legal regulations; implement plans and telegrams to remove difficulties for businesses. Negotiate reciprocal tax reductions with the United States, prioritize FTAs (EVFTA, CPTPP, UKVFTA) so that businesses can enjoy tariff incentives. Reform administrative procedures, attract investment in afforestation, wood and forest product processing.
Second, tax and credit policies. Accordingly, it is recommended to consider reducing export taxes on raw wood; support businesses to respond to US reciprocal taxes. Diversify export markets, take advantage of tariff incentives from FTA agreements.
Third, propaganda and trade promotion. Accordingly, increase exports to traditional markets; expand to new markets such as Brazil, India, the Middle East. Organize international fairs, promote brands, provide official information to businesses and guide responses to reciprocal taxes, Section 232.
Fourth, manage legal wood origins. Accordingly, prevent illegal wood from entering supply chain, meet emission reduction requirements and prevent forest degradation. Strictly control domestic and imported wood origins, limit transit to avoid fraud. Develop planted forest areas with planting area codes and sustainable management certificates. Build a database system for violations of forestry laws, and improve wood traceability.
In addition, Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Industry and Trade regularly update information, support businesses in responding to trade defense lawsuits, promote development of large timber forests and ensure legal sources of raw materials for processing and export.
Vietnamese wood industry aims to export 18-20 billion USD by 2025 and 23-25 billion USD by 2030; value of domestic forest product consumption reaches 5 billion USD by 2025, over 6 billion USD by 2030. This is the time for businesses to take advantage of FTA opportunities, enhance value of Vietnamese Wood brand, improve products, apply cleaner technology, increase added value and international competitiveness.
Developing large timber forests, ensuring legal raw material sources, diversifying export markets and upgrading processing technology will help Vietnam achieve its export target of 25 billion USD by 2030, consolidating position of a sustainable and environmentally friendly wood industry on world trade map.

Source: Vitic/ congthuong.vn