What is Vietnam's 'trump card'?

The picture of agricultural exports in early 2025 has many bright signals. The Ministry of Industry and Trade has been implementing many solutions to promote the export of this product.

On the afternoon of March 27, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha chaired a meeting with the Vietnam General Association of Agriculture and Rural Development. The meeting was attended by representatives of several ministries and sectors. On the side of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Deputy Minister Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan attended the meeting.

Agricultural exports grow strongly

Reporting at the meeting, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan informed about the export situation of agricultural, forestry and fishery products in the first two months of the year.

According to statistics from the Customs Department, in the first two months of 2025, the export turnover of agricultural, forestry and fishery products reached 8.4 billion USD, an increase of 10.6% over the same period in 2024 and accounting for about 13.1% of the total export turnover of the country.

Of which, the export value recorded positive growth compared to the same period in 2024 in 5/10 key products. Specifically, pepper reached nearly 27.3 thousand tons, worth 184.5 million USD, down 11.6% in volume and up 48.6% in value; coffee reached 309.5 thousand tons, worth nearly 1.7 billion USD, down 22% in volume but up 37.2% in value; rubber reached 276 million tons, turnover reached 524 billion USD, down 7.4% in volume but up 22.8% in value; aquatic products reached 1.43 billion USD, up 19% in value; wood and wood products reached nearly 2.5 billion USD, up 9.4% in value...

Despite many difficulties, Vietnamese rice is still favored by many markets (Photo: Can Dung)

Regarding rice, in the first two months of the year, exports reached 1.23 million tons, worth 675 million USD, up 17.6% in volume. The main reason is that import demand from traditional markets such as the Philippines, China and African countries remains high. In particular, Vietnamese rice prices continue to maintain a competitive advantage over other exporting countries thanks to improved quality and flexible trade policies.

In general, agricultural products still play a key role, contributing the majority to the overall growth. The products with the highest export turnover in the group include coffee, rice, cashew nuts, pepper, vegetables and rubber. In addition, seafood and forestry exports also recorded positive signals thanks to increased demand from the international market.

In recent times, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has coordinated with ministries, branches, localities, and agricultural industry associations to focus on promoting key tasks and solutions to support the promotion of consumption of agricultural, forestry, and aquatic products, contributing to achieving record results in agricultural production and export.

Specifically, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has provided information on export markets, trade policies, standards and regulations for products, consumer demand and tastes in target markets; forecasting information on factors affecting the competitiveness of Vietnamese agricultural products to help businesses better prepare for opportunities and challenges in international business. Organizing a series of monthly trade promotion conferences with the Vietnamese Trade Offices abroad...

Regarding the agricultural and food industry, the Trade Promotion Agency organized 03 conferences to exchange information and solutions to promote exports of agricultural products such as: trade promotion to develop export rice markets (February); coffee and spices (April); seasonal agricultural products (May).

In addition, within the framework of the National Trade Promotion Program 2024, the host units have implemented 31 projects on market development and export promotion for agricultural products and agricultural products with a total support budget of more than VND 28.64 billion (equivalent to nearly 20.8% of the total budget of the Program).

In 2025, the Ministry of Industry and Trade approved 36 projects on agricultural product market development in Decision No. 4057/QD-BCT dated December 31, 2024 on approving the National Trade Promotion Program in 2025. Immediately after the program was approved, the Trade Promotion Department - National Trade Promotion Program Management Board closely coordinated with trade promotion agencies of ministries, branches, industry associations, local trade promotion agencies, and mass media to disseminate information and guide businesses to proactively select, develop, and participate in appropriate trade promotion activities.

Up to now, the host units have implemented 7 projects in the field of agricultural products and food, typically including the Fruit Logistica Berlin Fruit and Vegetable Fair, Biofach Organic Fair, Foodex International Food and Beverage Fair... attracting a total of nearly 120 Vietnamese enterprises to participate, signing many contracts and memorandums of understanding with a total value of nearly 8.3 million USD.

In addition, the Vietnamese Food Industry Brand Program (Food of Vietnam) was assigned by the Prime Minister to the Minister of Industry and Trade to implement with the aim of raising awareness of Vietnamese enterprises about building, developing and protecting food industry brands; promoting the export of Vietnamese agricultural products and food.

The program includes 9 food products considered for branding to represent the food industry, including: Tea, pepper, cashew nuts, coffee, fruits, cereals, seafood, fresh vegetables, and honey. In recent years, through domestic and international trade promotion events, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has integrated propaganda to promote the food industry brand "Food of Vietnam" with the 9 specific sub-sectors mentioned above, achieving many positive results, attracting special attention from the business community and consumers at home and abroad.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade also organizes many training courses to help businesses grasp market trends, improve export skills and promote trade effectively. At the same time, it coordinates with industry associations and international partners to organize direct connection programs.

Continue to "open the way" for agricultural exports

Despite positive results in the export of agricultural, forestry and fishery products, businesses still face a number of major challenges. The international market is still subject to many fluctuations, especially increasing trade barriers from importing countries. In addition, logistics and input material costs remain high, affecting businesses' profit margins.

However, there are also huge opportunities as free trade agreements (FTAs) continue to provide tariff incentives and expand markets for Vietnamese exports. Investing in sustainable supply chains, improving product quality and taking advantage of FTAs ​​will help businesses maintain growth momentum in the coming time.

In the coming time, to continue to overcome market challenges and promote the export of agricultural, forestry and fishery products, the Ministry of Industry and Trade will continue to improve the quality of forecasting world market fluctuations, focusing on collecting information on production and export strategies of competitors. In addition, taking advantage of favorable factors to consolidate and expand the position of Vietnam's agricultural, forestry and fishery products in the new context.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade also requested the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to re-plan the raw material areas in the direction of expansion, quality, efficiency, and support farmers to convert low-yield trees to higher-yield varieties to increase output and quality after harvest. At the same time, research and develop cooperation and investment programs in cashew raw material areas with African countries, Cambodia, and Laos to create favorable conditions for domestic enterprises to access raw materials at more competitive prices.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade will continue to coordinate propaganda, mobilization, and support member enterprises to participate in domestic and foreign fairs and exhibitions such as Vietnam Foodexpo, Anuga, SIAL, Gulfood, etc. under the National Trade Promotion Program as well as other domestic and foreign trade promotion activities.

Source: https://congthuong.vn/xuat-khau-nong-san-khoi-sac-dau-la-at-chu-bai-cua-viet-nam-380324.html