VIETNAMESE VEGETTABLES AND FRUITS HAVE MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO PENETRATE DEEPER THAN THE EU MARKET.

The EU is a large market and one of the largest export markets for Vietnamese agricultural products. The EVFTA Agreement has also opened great opportunities for Vietnamese agricultural products when conquering this market. However, to increase market share and penetrate deeply into the market, Vietnamese enterprises must increase deep processing to meet the strict standards of the market.

According to the Import-Export Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade), the EU has 27 member countries, a population of more than 500 million people and a large import demand for fruit and vegetable products. However, imports from Vietnam only accounted for nearly 0.1% of the EU’s total fruit and vegetable imports in the first four months of 2022, so there are still many opportunities for Vietnamese fruit and vegetable businesses. push to the EU market soon.

Vietnam’s vegetables, tubers and fruits still have plenty of room for export to the EU market.

According to data from the European Statistics Agency (Eurostat), the EU’s fruit and vegetable imports in the first four months of 2022 increased sharply compared to the same period last year. The EU’s average fruit and vegetable import price also increased. The EU imports vegetables and fruits mainly from domestic markets such as the Netherlands, Spain … in the first 4 months of 2022.

However, the import volume from the main markets is on a downward trend and the EU is tending to increase the import of vegetables and fruits from non-EU markets. Vietnam is currently the 43rd largest fruit and vegetable supplier to the EU, reaching 24 thousand tons in the first 4 months of 2022, worth 62.5 million Euro (equivalent to 63.2 million USD), up 7.6%. in volume and up 29.4% in value over the same period in 2021. The average import price from Vietnam was at a high level, reaching 2,625.5 Euro/ton, up 20.2% over the same period in 2021.

EU imports a lot of vegetables and several edible tubers, tubers, and fruits (HS code 07); edible fruits and nuts, citrus peels, or melons (HS 08) in the first 4 months of 2022. Both commodity groups the EU imports from Vietnam accounted for a small proportion of total imports, of which HS 07 accounted for 0.02% and HS 08 accounted for 0.11%.

Meanwhile, HS code 08 has many types of fruits that Vietnam has strengths, such as: lychee, longan, rambutan, dragon fruit, pineapple, cantaloupe… Besides, with the EVFTA Agreement, all kind Vietnam’s vegetables and fruits have many opportunities to penetrate deeper into the EU market, competing with markets that have strengths in fruit and vegetable products but have not yet had an FTA with the EU such as Thailand, China, Malaysia, and Indonesia…

According to Mr. Tran Van Cong, Agricultural Counselor of Vietnam in the EU, for processed products, Vietnam can fully access the EU market with frozen and canned vegetables, tubers and fruits. The export turnover of Vietnamese agricultural products to this market is at a high level, among all groups of vegetables and fruits, the group with the greatest potential.

A representative of the Information Center for Industry and Trade (Ministry of Industry and Trade) also said that the development of the fruit and vegetable industry in the direction of processing not only helps control prices but also increases the value of goods by 3 or 4 times. time. compared to fresh food.

This activity also helps to increase the shelf life of agricultural products and relieve the situation of local oversupply. However, to do this requires large investment costs, while most fruit and vegetable processing enterprises have very small capital (more than 80% of establishments are under VND 2 billion) and are not prioritized for investment. . .. production premises: The post-harvest preservation of farmers has not focused, leading to post-harvest losses of more than 20%…

Mr. Nguyen Van Thu, General Director of G.C Food Joint Stock Company (GC Food) said that post-harvest processing is a key step to improve the value of agricultural products. Because fruit after processing can increase export value. For example, desiccated coconut, farmers can only sell 5,000 VND/Kg, but coconut jelly costs 25,000 VND / kg, which is the added value from the processing industry.

To promote fruit and vegetable consumption, General Director of Vitamin Joint Stock Company Nguyen Lam Vien also said that localities need to build a transparent information system, build a focal point to receive and distribute information at localities. the point. planting area. Thereby, controlling product quality, forming a large-scale raw material area.

To promote the export of vegetables, tubers, and fruits to the EU market, from the perspective of importers, Hoang Xuan Khang, representative of International Fresh Group, said that state management agencies need to help businesses, especially small and medium enterprises have been certified in terms of standards and basic infrastructure to export to the EU market. Then comes the selection of the right product and marketing strategy. For enterprises, it is necessary to pay special attention to the issue of pesticide residues, because just a few batches of unqualified products can affect all the remaining exporters.

The Vietnam Trade Office in Belgium, Luxembourg and the EU said that the agency will focus on supporting the export of agricultural products to Belgium and the EU, especially canned products. Currently, a Belgian SME needs to supply 3 canned products as follows: Pineapple Tidbits – outstanding quality. The quantity of this product is 66,000 tin cans per year: Pineapple Tidbits – Standard quality. It is the the same as above but allows for smaller pieces and the color plus flavor may be slightly different from the above. Quantity is 18,000 tons a year; Bamboo shoots: The quantity of this product is 54,000 tin cans/year.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Vietnam’s fruit, and vegetable exports to the EU market after the EVFTA came into effect and took effect has achieved positive results. In the coming time, Vietnamese enterprises can increase the export of vegetables and fruits to the EU, but they need to strictly comply with this market’s regulations on traceability, quality standards, food hygiene and safety.

Source: Phan Đức – https://cand.com.vn/Thi-truong/rau-qua-cua-viet-nam-co-nhieu-co-hoi-tham-nhap-sau-hon-thi-truong-eu-i665059/