Great potential for agricultural products to be exported to the EU market

The European Union (EU) is an important trading partner of Vietnam, with a large market size and a total population of more than 450 million people. In recent years, many agricultural, forestry and fishery products (AFF) of our country have had favorable conditions to export to the EU thanks to tax reductions under the Vietnam - EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). Many AFF products are diverse, affirming their quality, meeting the requirements and tastes of consumers, so the potential for export to the EU is huge.

Báo Cần Thơ•01/12/2025

Pangasius fish and many other aquatic products of our country such as shrimp, tuna, squid, octopus, crab, etc. have been exported to the EU. In the photo: Processing pangasius for export at a business in Can Tho city.

Great potential

In the context of global trade difficulties, Vietnam's agricultural exports to the EU still recorded good growth. The EU is Vietnam's fourth largest trading partner and Vietnam is the EU's largest trading partner in the ASEAN bloc. The EU is currently the third largest agricultural consumption market in the world and Vietnam's fourth largest agricultural export market. Vietnam and the EU signed the EVFTA Free Trade Agreement, which took effect from August 1, 2020, with extensive and comprehensive commitments. EVFTA not only reduces many tax lines to 0% with a short roadmap and has a strict enforcement mechanism, including areas considered "non-traditional" such as labor, environment, investment dispute settlement mechanisms... EVFTA has been creating a very strong "push", bringing two-way agricultural trade turnover to grow steadily and accounting for about 12-13% of Vietnam's total agricultural export value. With a diverse ecosystem, along with many favorable natural and human conditions for exploitation, fishing, and developing diverse production of many crops and livestock, Vietnam has a lot of room to boost the export of agricultural products to the EU market.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs , Vietnam's agricultural exports to the EU in the first 9 months of 2025 reached about 7.4 billion USD, an increase of more than 40% over the same period last year. Vietnamese agricultural products are making good use of their existing advantages to penetrate and expand market share in the EU market thanks to the confirmed product quality and competitive costs, which are two key factors to help stand firm in the market. Agricultural products of Vietnam and the EU are generally complementary, not directly competitive, creating favorable conditions for export. European consumers increasingly favor organic and traditional products, associated with local and regional cultural values. Vietnamese agricultural products meet these factors well, with many products having great advantages in the EU market including tropical fruits, coffee and organic cashew nuts...

Despite the great potential and advantages, the development of NLTS exports to the EU still faces obstacles and challenges, especially for seafood exports, we need to promptly overcome the IUU yellow card. The EU market is shifting to the trend of "green, clean, sustainable, environmentally friendly" and has set increasingly high requirements on food safety, epidemiology, traceability, labor and environment. EU market regulations are also constantly changing, which makes it difficult for farmers and units and businesses in our country to grasp and meet EU regulations.

Solutions to increase exports to the EU

In order to develop the export of NLTS to the EU, in recent times, the central and local authorities have paid attention to promoting information, propaganda, training, helping people and businesses make good use of tax incentives in EVFTA. At the same time, improving product quality, promptly completing the standards and quality standards for Vietnamese NLTS products similar to EU market regulations. The functional sector also regularly organizes conferences, seminars and supply-demand connection activities to facilitate meetings between relevant parties to promptly grasp, remove difficulties and propose appropriate solutions associated with practical requirements.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently organized an online workshop with localities to promote the export of Vietnamese agricultural products to the EU market. At the workshop, many delegates recommended that functional agencies should increase technical support and information on new EU regulations to help farmers and businesses take advantage of opportunities, overcome challenges and trade barriers. Promote links between farmers, businesses, localities, and Vietnamese representative agencies in the EU to share market information, warn of risks, and promptly remove obstacles. Encourage and support investment in upgrading raw material areas, electronic traceability, and sustainability certification. Strictly comply with EU regulations on combating illegal fishing. Promote trade promotion and promotion associated with the development of diversified processed and exported products. Change the mindset from raw exports to high-value exports, from large quantities to sustainable quality, in accordance with the high standards of the EU market...

Mr. Nguyen Quynh Thien, Vice Chairman of Vinh Long Provincial People's Committee, suggested: "Central ministries and branches need to pay attention to supporting Vinh Long and localities to grasp information about the EU market to proactively build and develop key products for export. The province will continue to accompany businesses to expand economic cooperation, improve processing capacity, diversify products, and meet EU sustainability standards." According to Mr. Dao Van Cuong, Vice Chairman of Thanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee, in addition to the initiative of the locality, Thanh Hoa hopes to receive guidance, support, and connection from central ministries and branches, Vietnamese representative agencies in Europe, mainly the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ambassadors, to help localities promote their products...

According to Ms. Le Thi Thu Hang, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, the EU is a market with great potential and room for trade development, especially for the development of Vietnam's agricultural and forestry exports. The Ministry will continue to accompany localities, associations and businesses to access the EU market more effectively. Actively promote exchange and dialogue mechanisms with EU authorities to remove trade obstacles, while maximizing the effectiveness of the EVFTA agreement.

Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang suggested that specialized agencies under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Vietnamese representative agencies abroad should proactively update and provide information to focal points such as associations and cooperatives. Continue to organize promotional activities, advertise products, support localities and businesses to participate in international fairs. Promote technical cooperation to meet the increasingly high standards of the EU. Localities, industry associations and businesses also need to proactively coordinate to promote products in many diverse and creative forms...

Comment (0)