Support businesses exporting agricultural products and food to the European market

Market with great potential

On March 7, in Ho Chi Minh City, the Center for Industry and Trade Information ( Ministry of Industry and Trade ), Ho Chi Minh City branch, organized a seminar to provide information on import and export to the UK and European markets.

According to Mr. Nguyen Huu Tam, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Branch of the Center for Industry and Trade Information (Ministry of Industry and Trade), Europe is one of the largest agricultural export markets of Vietnam. The Vietnam - European Union Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) is considered an opportunity for Vietnamese agricultural products to deeply integrate into large markets with high selling prices.

In the period 2019 - 2023, Vietnam's agricultural exports to this market tend to grow steadily, despite difficulties and challenges in the region. Exports of many agricultural products to Europe account for a high proportion of the country's total export turnover such as: Coffee, cashew nuts, pepper, etc.

In 2024, the Ministry of Industry and Trade determined that Europe is still an export market with great potential for development. Currently, Europe is one of the largest and most potential markets in the world with a population of more than 740 million people and a GDP of over 18,000 billion USD. In addition, countries in the European region also have high demand for goods such as household appliances, food, agricultural products, handicraft products, etc. These are Vietnam's strengths. However, this is also a demanding market with many strict standards that require Vietnamese businesses to constantly change and adapt.

Sharing on the sidelines of the workshop, Mr. Nguyen Viet Xuan - Director of Tumorong Kon Tum Ngoc Linh Ginseng Joint Stock Company said that for ginseng products, Europe is a new but very potential market.

Hỗ trợ doanh nghiệp xuất khẩu nông sản, thực phẩm sang thị trường châu Âu

The company wishes to promote and bring Ngoc Linh ginseng tea and Ngoc Linh ginseng coffee products to the European market.

According to Mr. Xuan, European consumers rarely use fresh ginseng products or ginseng wine like in Asia. To conquer this market, the company has researched and produced additional product lines such as ginseng coffee, Ngoc Linh ginseng tea, and functional food products from Ngoc Linh ginseng. "By attending this seminar, we want to learn about the European market to bring Vietnam's national treasure to consumers in these countries," Mr. Xuan hopes.

What should businesses pay attention to?

Sharing his experience in exploiting the European market, Mr. Ma Thanh Danh - Chairman of CIB International Consulting Joint Stock Company - Deputy General Director of Kido Group said that agricultural and food enterprises must have a firm grasp of market information and demand. This can be learned through embassies or Vietnamese Trade Offices abroad.

“When exporting, the first thing you have to do is go to the embassy because no one else but the embassy - the people directly in that market - will advise businesses on market demand, which season to export which goods, what standards and regulations are, which products to buy to get the best incentives...”, Mr. Ma Thanh Danh emphasized and gave a typical example of coffee.

Speakers share experiences in exporting to the European market

According to Mr. Danh, European consumers mainly use Arabica coffee, while Vietnam is a major exporter of Robusta coffee. Statistics show that in 2023, Germany will be Vietnam's largest coffee export market. However, Mr. Danh noted that although we export coffee to Germany, the end consumers are mainly Asians. Therefore, businesses should take advantage of the overseas Vietnamese network in Europe to export and spread their products.

In addition, businesses can export on the spot through foreign supermarkets in Vietnam. "If exporting to Korea, sell to Emart, and to Japan - sell to Aone... because when the product has entered the supermarket, it will be easier to sell to customers in that country," Mr. Danh added.

In addition, Master, Lawyer Vu Xuan Hung - Head of Arbitration Legal Department of Vietnam Federation of Commerce and Industry, Ho Chi Minh City Branch added: The European region has the UK market and the European Union EU. These are markets that have new generation FTAs with Vietnam. According to the tax reduction roadmap, Vietnam's agricultural and food products are having more incentives and advantages than other countries in the region. However, for this market, the most important thing is not tariffs but non-tariff barriers. Therefore, when exporting to this market, businesses must fully meet food safety standards, especially traceability.

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