China is the top export market for Vietnam's agricultural, forestry and fishery products in 2023.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien had an interview with reporters and the press about the picture of agricultural, forestry and fishery exports in 2023 and expectations for 2024.

In 2023, the agricultural sector has achieved many achievements, can you share about this?

2023 is a difficult year for the world and domestic economies. The agricultural sector alone still has to face its own difficulties such as: Weak infrastructure; in-depth and incomplete processing; natural disasters, climate change, etc. These are important factors that directly impact agriculture. However, with the attention of the Party, the National Assembly, the direction of the Government and the Prime Minister, the agricultural sector has achieved very encouraging results.

Fruit and vegetable exports in 2023 will reach 5.69 billion USD, an increase of 69.2%, of which durian alone will earn more than 2.2 billion USD.

Specifically, the total added value (GDP) of the industry increased sharply, estimated at 3.83%. This is the highest growth rate in the past 10 years.

Although the rice area decreased by 9 thousand hectares, the productivity increased by 1 quintal/ha, resulting in the rice output in 2023 still reaching 43.5 million tons; meat of all kinds reaching 7.79 million tons (higher than the target of over 7.3 million tons); the livestock industry grew by 5.72%; aquaculture reached 9.33 million tons, up 3.71%; cultivation has never increased by more than 2%, but this year it increased by 3%; planted forest wood reached 33 million ^m3 , forest environmental service revenue was 3,200 billion VND. For the first time, Vietnam sold 10.3 million carbon credits, earning 1,200 billion VND. Thus, we have great potential and advantages in carbon credits.

Total export turnover of agricultural, forestry and fishery products reached 53.01 billion USD. Although the export target set for 2023 has not been achieved, the trade surplus reached a record 12.07 billion USD (the highest in the past 10 years), up 43.7%, accounting for over 42.5% of the country's trade surplus .

Six export items reached over 3 billion USD including: Vegetables and fruits reached 5.69 billion USD, up 69.2% over the same period last year; rice 4.78 billion USD, up 38.4%; cashew nuts 3.63 billion USD, up 17.6%; coffee 4.18 billion USD, up 3.1%; shrimp 3.38 billion USD, down 21.7%; wood and wood products 13.37 billion USD, down 16.5%.

Based on the achieved results, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will review the results, find out the causes, shortcomings, and limitations, and from there propose appropriate solutions so that 2024 will be a year of growth and 2025 will reach the finish line, achieving the goals set by the Resolution on agriculture, farmers, and rural areas.

2023 is a successful year for the fruit and vegetable industry. What are the Ministry's orientations in 2024 to boost exports of this product, sir?

In 2023, fruit and vegetable exports will reach 5.69 billion USD, up 69.2% over the same period last year. The potential advantages of the fruit and vegetable industry are huge, including durian.

Thứ trưởng Bộ Nông nghiệp và Phát triển nông thôn Phùng Đức Tiến (ảnh Nguyễn Hạnh)

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien (photo by Nguyen Hanh)

Specifically, in 2023, durian export turnover will reach over 2.2 billion USD. Currently, the durian area is 112 thousand hectares with an output of 840 thousand tons, but we have only harvested over 60 thousand hectares, the remaining 51 thousand hectares will be harvested soon. With frozen durian, if the Protocol with China is signed, the durian export value will increase.

In addition, with infrastructure solutions being resolved, such as smart border gates, railways, and roads connecting to China. In addition to quarantine measures agreed upon between Vietnam and China, administrative procedures being cut, and growing area codes and packaging codes being clarified, fruit and vegetable export output will have even more potential and growth advantages in 2024.

Based on this year’s results, what will the export picture be like in 2024? What solutions does the Ministry have to achieve the export turnover of 54-55 billion USD as set for 2024?

It can be seen that after many years of restructuring, the scale of agricultural industries is very clear, and the links are increasingly tight. That is the risk sharing and the benefits are harmonious, and only in the chains can we have sustainable and fast development.

In 2023, the structure of Vietnam's agricultural, forestry and fishery export markets is as follows: China reached 12.2 billion USD, accounting for 23%; the United States reached 10.9 billion USD, accounting for 21% of the market share; Japan 3.9 billion USD, accounting for 7%; South Korea 2.1 billion USD and the Philippines 2.1 billion USD, both accounting for 4%; the EU and other markets are 21.75 billion USD, accounting for 41%. Based on the market and production structure, we can promote the subjects, promote the potential and advantages of the markets, thereby reaching the finish line.

As for the Chinese market, this is a market of 1.4 billion people, with the signed Protocols, we will have advantages in export; along with the trade infrastructure to help facilitate two-way trade; animal and plant quarantine will cut down on administrative procedures to ensure faster and more accurate procedures.

Along with potential export products with advantages. For example, coconut with 194 thousand hectares, output of 1.9 million tons is about to sign the Protocol; 7 enterprises have exported bird's nest to the Chinese market with output of over 200 tons.

And when all the sectors and industries such as forestry, aquaculture, livestock, cultivation, etc. are promoted synchronously, we believe that the export scale and export value in 2024 will be higher than in 2023.

Thank you!

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