Rice exporters urged to utilise FTAs to boost declining shipments
Vietnamese rice exporters have been urged to play a more active role in utilising free trade agreements (FTAs) to which Vietnam is a party to boost falling exports.
Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnamese rice exporters have been urged toplay a more active role in utilising free trade agreements (FTAs) to whichVietnam is a party to boost falling exports.
The country exported 1.1 million tonnes of rice for 606 million USD inthe first quarter of the year, down 30.4 percent and 17.4 percent,respectively, against the same period last year, according to the Ministry ofAgriculture and Rural Development.
The two largest buyers of Vietnamese rice in the reviewed periodremained China and the Philippines.
Despite the fall in volume, rice export prices jumped from January to Marchon account of high demand for food reserves around the world, said Tran QuocToan, Deputy Director of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT)’s Agency ofForeign Trade.
By the end of March, Vietnam’s rice price remained at a high of 547 USDper tonne, up 18.6 percent, or 86 USD, compared to a year earlier.
Rice exporters have been increasingly focusing on improving quality andtraceability to meet the strict standards of markets such as the EU, theRepublic of Korea (RoK), and the US, Toan said.
Vietnam has entered into various FTAs with strategic countries andregions, such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-PacificPartnership (CPTPP), the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), and, morerecently, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and theUK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA).
He said that in order to utilise FTAs and boost the global market shareof Vietnamese rice at more competitive prices, the ministry will continue tocoordinate with ministries, branches, and the Vietnam Food Association to helpbusinesses effectively implement deals and make the most of markets such as theRoK and the EU.
The MoIT will adopt mechanisms and policies to remove technical andtrade barriers, internalise international commitments, customs procedures,logistics, and credit, and focus on branding to create a foundation for riceexporters to exploit foreign markets, Toan said.
He also urged rice exporters and farmers to be more active in improving productcompetitiveness in terms of quality and price as well as building and protectingVietnamese trademarks, so as to diversify markets and promote sustainableexports./.
Thailand’s rice exports plunged by 23 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2021 to 1.13 million tonnes due to its higher prices than those of competitors.
The import-export value of agro-forestry-fisheries products in the first four months of 2021 stood at about 32.07 billion USD, with exports estimated at 17.15 billion USD, a 24.2 percent increase year-on-year, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has reported.
Fruit and vegetable exporters should improve their processing technologies, especially in the post-harvest and packaging stages, to preserve their products longer and enhance their value, experts said.
In addition to institutional reform, the agency is also rolling out key solution groups to combat counterfeit goods, imitations, and intellectual property infringements in the digital environment.
The event, co-organised by the Vietnam Trade Office in the UK and TT Meridian, a local importer of Vietnamese fresh produce, aims to build a national lychee brand and encourage broader recognition of Vietnamese fruits in a competitive, high-end market.
The industry's performance has been powered by bold investments in modern production lines, enabling Vietnamese firms to produce complicated products which were exclusive to advanced economies.
Outcomes of ABAC III will shape ABAC’s final policy recommendations to be submitted to the ABAC-APEC leaders’ dialogue, scheduled to take place in the Republic of Korea this November.
This is the second year the magazine has released the ranking, which is based on total revenue and key financial indicators of enterprises from seven countries in the region: Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, and Cambodia.
At the summit, publishing, tech, and media sectors will discuss emerging trends, business models, and sustainable solutions for digital publishing development in Vietnam.
This year’s “Vietnam Goods Week” marks a significant milestone as it is being held simultaneously for the first time in four locations across Asia: Japan, Hong Kong (China), Cambodia, and Malaysia, from June 19 - 22.
According to NordCham Vietnam Chairman Thue Quist Thomasen, the Vietnamese Government’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 is both a challenge and an opportunity for businesses to contribute to green and sustainable growth.
The analysis from an investment perspective shows that the economy’s growth has been heavily capital‑driven, yet efficiency remains low as reflected by Vietnam’s Incremental Capital-Output Ratio (ICOR) being significantly higher than global and regional averages. This underscores the imperative to enhance capital‑use efficiency.
Deputy PM Tran Hong Ha urged countries to work together to remove supply chain bottlenecks, expand market access, strengthen cooperation in smart customs procedures, mutually recognise technical standards, and eliminate unnecessary protectionist barriers to boost trade and investment.
The event has gathered over 400 exhibitors from 16 countries and territories, with more than 980 booths showcasing a wide range of products and technologies in automotive components, electronics, repair and maintenance, bodywork, accessories, and customisation.
The latest order follows Vietjet’s commitment for 20 additional A330neo aircraft last month, bringing the airline’s total widebody aircraft on order to 40.
Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang acknowledged the target represents an important milestone for socio-economic development as well as a demonstration of the country’s aspiration for robust economic growth.
The price of E5 RON92 petrol is now capped at 20,631 VND (0.79 USD) per litre, up 1,169 VND from the previous adjustment, while RON95-III costs no more than 21,244 VND per litre, up 1,277 VND.
While German consumers are familiar with Vietnamese products such as coffee, seafood, tea, and spices, many other quality items remain relatively unknown in the market. The Selgros event not only helped introduce Bac Giang lychee to German consumers but also provided them with the opportunity to experience other Vietnamese agricultural products.
The article by Cuba’s Inter Press Service detailed how Vietnamese private enterprise Agri VMA leased 1,000 ha of land in Los Palacios district, Cuba’s westernmost province of Pinar del Río, for rice cultivation over a three-year period. The project’s first harvest in 2025 recorded an impressive yield of 7.2 tonnes per hectare, far exceeding the local average of 1.6 tonnes.
Illustrative photo. (Source: VNA)
