Agricultural exports continuously break records

Workers process and package bananas for export at Huy Long An Company Limited in Duc Hue district, Long An province – Photo: QUANG DINH

2024 is no exception when for the first time in history, coffee exports exceed 5 billion USD, cashew nut exports exceed 4 billion USD; vegetables and fruits exceed 2023 by 1 billion USD; shrimp exports bring in 4 billion USD; rice sets a new record, bringing in nearly 6 billion USD...

Record after record

In 2024, the Vietnamese coffee industry will make a record when export turnover reaches 5.2 billion USD, surpassing the 5 billion USD mark for the first time in history.

According to Mr. Nguyen Nam Hai - Chairman of the Vietnam Coffee - Cocoa Association, the high export price of coffee is the main factor leading to this success, although the export output decreased by 14% compared to 2023.

The average coffee price peaked at $5,720 per ton in October, and although it fell slightly in November, it remained high at over $5,580 per ton. This is a dream price for the coffee industry, contributing to a 35% increase in turnover.

In particular, according to the Import-Export Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade), 2024 will see Vietnamese coffee prices reach the highest level in the world.

Vietnam's Robusta coffee even surpassed Arabica coffee at one point. The Ministry of Industry and Trade rated coffee as the agricultural product with the strongest increase in value among key export groups.

During the year, the Vietnamese cashew industry made its mark by achieving an export turnover of 4.2 billion USD, with output exceeding 700,000 tons for the first time. This is an important milestone, far exceeding the target of 4 billion USD set for 2020.

Despite facing economic difficulties and rising logistics costs, cashew exports still grow positively.

According to Ms. T. Diem, owner of a cashew export business in Binh Phuoc, traditional markets such as the US and Europe still highly appreciate the quality of Vietnamese cashews, especially processed cashews. American consumers increasingly prioritize Vietnamese cashews thanks to their competitive prices.

In 2024, the Vietnamese rice industry will achieve a record export of 9 million tons, bringing in 5.7 billion USD, far exceeding the 8.1 million tons achieved in 2023. This is the biggest winning year ever, especially in key markets such as the Philippines and China.

An export enterprise in Dong Thap shared that orders have increased sharply, many contracts have been deposited and delivered far away.

Enterprises focus on high-quality fragrant rice, gradually replacing low-quality rice. Rice varieties such as Dai Thom 8, OM 18 and ST are favored by the international market, bringing high economic value to both farmers and enterprises.

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Nam, Chairman of the Vietnam Food Association (VFA), commented that 2024 has set a new record, affirming the sustainability of the rice industry.

The average export price of rice reached over 600 USD/ton, the highest level ever, an increase of more than 28%. “Vietnamese rice now ranks third in the world, after India with 17 million tons and Thailand with 10 million tons,” said Mr. Nam.

During the year, Vietnamese fruits and vegetables made their mark with an export turnover of 7.1 billion USD, an increase of 27% compared to 5.6 billion USD in 2023, joining the group of agricultural export products exceeding the 5 billion USD mark such as coffee and rice.

A notable highlight is that Vietnamese bananas surpassed Philippine bananas for the first time, taking the number 1 position in the choice of Chinese consumers.

Durian also made a breakthrough, with exports, including frozen durian, reaching $3.2 billion, up nearly 50% from the previous year. Products such as fresh coconut are also attracting great interest from the Chinese market.

Mr. Dang Phuc Nguyen, general secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, commented that Vietnamese fruits and vegetables are increasingly gaining advantages thanks to abundant output, improved quality and competitive prices.

Graphics: TAN DAT

Quality is the key to the future

Many unexpected results with Vietnamese agricultural exports in the past year, meaning that 2025 continues to be a year of continued desire for this growth to be sustainable. To do so, many experts, businesses, and industry associations believe that there are still many realities to look back on and put quality first.

Vietnam’s rice industry is facing challenges as the price of 5% broken rice in early December 2024 fell to $485/ton, lower than Thailand ($501/ton) and the lowest in the past 19 months. 2025 is expected to be more difficult as India increases exports, pushing up global supply.

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Nam admitted that competition will be fiercer. In this situation, a rice exporter in Ho Chi Minh City said that the industry needs to step up trade promotion and take advantage of free trade agreements to expand potential markets.

Besides, developing high-quality rice growing areas, transforming crop structure and combining other agricultural models are necessary solutions.

“Closely monitoring the market and improving product quality will determine the success of Vietnamese rice in the upcoming difficult period,” the business emphasized.

Although Vietnam's fruit and vegetable industry achieved impressive export results in 2024, challenges still exist, especially dragon fruit, which experienced negative growth due to its inability to compete with Chinese dragon fruit in terms of price, even though its quality is not inferior.

Mr. Dang Phuc Nguyen said that it is necessary to boost the export of dragon fruit to demanding markets such as Japan and South Korea and focus on developing products that China does not have, such as fresh coconut. At the same time, it is necessary to deeply process fruits such as jackfruit, mango, or frozen durian to increase their value.

Mr. Vu Thanh Xuan, owner of a fruit export business in Khanh Hoa, emphasized that raising awareness and compliance with international standards among farmers and businesses is a decisive factor. “We need to focus on quality instead of massively expanding acreage, especially for agricultural products such as durian and coconut,” Mr. Xuan recommended.

Agricultural sector goals in 2025

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has continued to approve the coffee replanting project for the 2021-2025 period. The goal for the 2021-2025 period is to replant and graft nearly 110,000 hectares, with export turnover expected to grow by 12%.

For Vietnamese fruit and vegetable exports, the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association predicts that the industry will bring in about 8 billion USD. For seafood, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers expects 11-12 billion USD in 2025.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/xuat-khau-nong-san-lien-tiep-pha-ky-luc-20241229092914987.htm