Visiting Ha Tinh, the "capital" of agarwood production, during its busiest time of the year.

As a 3-star OCOP-certified incense production facility, Hien Linh Incense Cooperative (Hamlet 1, Phuc Trach Commune) offers many popular products. From the 10th lunar month each year, the cooperative increases production by 2-3 times to meet the Tet (Lunar New Year) market demand. Besides OCOP-certified incense, the cooperative also expands production to include other items such as incense cones, incense bracelets, and handicrafts to cater to customer needs and preferences.

Hien Linh Incense Cooperative proactively secures high-quality raw materials to meet year-end production needs.

Mr. Bui Thuc Chinh, Director of the Cooperative, shared: “For about a month now, the number of customers coming directly to the facility to survey and purchase has increased significantly. In addition, many partners, including dealers in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, have continuously placed large orders to serve the year-end market. We have had to mobilize an additional 5-6 skilled personnel to participate in production, meeting the needs of each stage of crafting, machining, and packaging the products.”

According to Mr. Chinh, the Tet season usually lasts from October of the lunar calendar this year to the end of January of the lunar calendar next year. On average, each season, the business sells nearly 60,000 incense sticks, equivalent to about 3.5 tons of powder; about 1,000 boxes of incense cones and many kinds of jewelry, handicrafts, essential oils… Revenue during the Tet season is estimated at 500-600 million VND, accounting for about two-thirds of the year's revenue. Therefore, this is considered a "golden time" for the business to accelerate and increase sales.

Taking advantage of favorable weather conditions, agarwood production facilities in Phuc Trach are focusing on drying their finished products.

“Besides the demand for incense during holidays and festivals, many people also believe that using agarwood is a way to bring good fortune into the house in the new year, bringing luck to the homeowner. Therefore, the number of orders for agarwood products during Tet (Lunar New Year) is constantly increasing. Currently, we not only serve the local market but also supply to many major provinces and cities nationwide,” Mr. Chinh further shared.

Recognized by the People's Committee of Ha Tinh province as a traditional agarwood craft village in 2022, Hamlet 8 (Phuc Trach commune) has become a "bright spot" in the production and business of products from agarwood trees. These days, more than 50 households in the craft village are busy producing to serve the peak market demand at the end of the year. The sounds of chiseling, grinding, and the conversations of traders create a lively and bustling atmosphere.

The sounds of saws and chisels create a bustling atmosphere in the "capital" of agarwood during the last days of the year.

Ms. Vo Thi Nga (Hamlet 8, Phuc Trach Commune) shared: “By making full use of all parts of the agarwood tree, my workshop produces many products such as agarwood bracelets, agarwood buds, agarwood chips, agarwood bonsai trees, etc. With market demand increasing 3-4 times at the end of the year, we have hired more skilled craftsmen from Hue City to improve production efficiency and diversify designs to serve customers.”

According to residents of traditional agarwood craft villages, the average annual income from agarwood trees is between 250 and 300 million VND per household. Larger-scale producers and businesses can achieve incomes of 1.5 to 2 billion VND per year. The Lunar New Year season is a peak period that significantly impacts business success, so residents tend to focus on boosting production during this time.

Each incense stick is carefully counted and packaged by workers before being supplied to the market.

“Besides proactively securing a supply of agarwood raw materials for production, we also mobilize additional personnel; apply technology in processing; and research popular items each year to enhance the competitiveness of our products. Furthermore, we use 100% raw materials sourced from agarwood trees grown in Phuc Trach commune, without using harmful chemicals, creating high-quality and safe products,” said Ms. Hoang Thi Lan (Hamlet 8, Phuc Trach commune).

According to statistics, Phuc Trach commune currently has over 400 hectares of agarwood trees, 2 enterprises, 1 cooperative, and a craft village specializing in agarwood processing with more than 50 households participating. With its high economic value, the planting, processing, and production of this "specialty" tree species generate hundreds of billions of dong in economic revenue each year.

A variety of products made from agarwood are particularly popular in the market during the Lunar New Year.

Mr. Le Nguyen Kien Cuong, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Phuc Trach commune, shared: “Currently, agarwood production and processing facilities in the area are entering the peak season at the end of the year. Proactive management of raw materials and labor, along with market understanding, is expected to help these units improve production and business efficiency. Along with supporting facilities in registering trademarks and ensuring product traceability, the People's Committee of Phuc Trach commune is calling on investors to further process products from agarwood trees, shortening the processing time and increasing the economic value of this tree species.”

Source: https://baohatinh.vn/ve-thu-phu-che-tac-tram-huong-ha-tinh-dip-soi-dong-nhat-nam-post300976.html