Workers process and package bananas for export at Huy Long An Co., Ltd. in Duc Hue district, Long An province – Photo: QUANG DINH
2024 was no exception, as for the first time in history, coffee exports exceeded $5 billion, cashew exports surpassed $4 billion; fruit and vegetable exports exceeded 2023's total by $1 billion; shrimp exports brought in $4 billion; and rice set a new record, bringing in nearly $6 billion…
Record after record
In 2024, Vietnam's coffee industry achieved a remarkable feat, with export turnover reaching $5.2 billion, surpassing the $5 billion mark for the first time in history.
According to Mr. Nguyen Nam Hai, chairman of the Vietnam Coffee and Cocoa Association, the high export price of coffee is the main factor leading to this success, despite a 14% decrease in export volume compared to 2023.
The average price of coffee peaked at $5,720 per ton in October, and although it decreased slightly in November, it remained high at over $5,580 per ton. This is a dream price for the coffee industry, contributing to a more than 35% increase in export value.
In particular, according to the Import-Export Department ( Ministry of Industry and Trade ), 2024 saw Vietnamese coffee prices reach the highest level in the world.
Vietnamese Robusta coffee even surpassed Arabica coffee in price at one point. The Ministry assessed coffee as the agricultural product with the strongest value growth among the key export groups.
This year, Vietnam's cashew industry made a significant mark by achieving export revenue of 4.2 billion USD, with production exceeding 700,000 tons for the first time. This is an important milestone, far surpassing the 4 billion USD target set for 2020.
Despite facing economic difficulties and rising logistics costs, cashew exports continue to grow positively.
According to Ms. T. Diem, the 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 are increasingly favoring Vietnamese cashews due to their competitive prices.
In 2024, Vietnam's rice industry achieved a record export volume of 9 million tons, bringing in $5.7 billion, far surpassing the 8.1 million tons achieved in 2023. This was the biggest year ever, especially in key markets such as the Philippines and China.
An export business in Dong Thap shared that orders have increased sharply, with many contracts already secured and deliveries scheduled for the future.
Businesses are focusing on high-quality, fragrant rice, gradually replacing lower-grade 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 businesses.
Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Nam, chairman of the Vietnam Food Association (VFA), stated that 2024 set a new record, affirming the sustainability of the rice industry.
The average export price of rice reached over $600 per ton, the highest level ever, an increase of more than 28%. "Vietnamese rice now ranks third in the world, after India (17 million tons) and Thailand (10 million tons)," Mr. Nam said.
This year, Vietnamese fruits and vegetables made a mark with export turnover reaching 7.1 billion USD, a 27% increase compared to 5.6 billion USD in 2023, joining the group of agricultural export items exceeding the 5 billion USD mark such as coffee and rice.
A notable highlight is that Vietnamese bananas have surpassed Philippine bananas for the first time, taking the number one spot in the choice of Chinese consumers.
Durian also saw a breakthrough, with export revenue, including frozen durian, reaching $3.2 billion, an increase of nearly 50% compared to the previous year. Products such as fresh coconuts are also attracting significant interest from the Chinese market.
Mr. Dang Phuc Nguyen, General Secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, noted that Vietnamese fruits and vegetables are increasingly gaining advantages thanks to abundant production, improved quality, and competitive prices.
Graphics: TAN DAT
Quality is key to the future.
Many unexpected results were achieved with Vietnamese agricultural exports last year, meaning that this growth in 2025 must be sustainable. To achieve this, many experts, businesses, and industry associations believe that there are still many realities to consider and that quality must be prioritized.
The Vietnamese rice industry is facing challenges as the price of 5% broken rice fell to US$485/ton in early December 2024, lower than Thailand (US$501/ton) and the lowest level in the past 19 months. 2025 is projected to be even more difficult as India increases exports, driving up global supply.
Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Nam acknowledged that competition will become more intense. In light of this situation, a rice export company in Ho Chi Minh City suggested that the industry needs to strengthen trade promotion and leverage free trade agreements to expand into potential markets.
In addition, developing high-quality rice-growing areas, transforming the crop structure, and integrating other agricultural models are necessary solutions.
"Closely monitoring the market and improving product quality will determine the success of Vietnamese rice in the upcoming challenging period," the company emphasized.
Despite achieving impressive export results in 2024, Vietnam's fruit and vegetable industry still faces challenges, particularly negative growth in dragon fruit due to its inability to compete with Chinese dragon fruit in terms of price, even though its quality is comparable.
Mr. Dang Phuc Nguyen suggested that it is necessary to boost dragon fruit exports to demanding markets such as Japan and South Korea, and focus on developing products that China does not have, such as fresh coconuts. At the same time, it is necessary to 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 ensuring compliance with international standards among farmers and businesses is a decisive factor. "We need to focus on quality rather than expanding acreage indiscriminately, especially for agricultural products like durian and coconut," Mr. Xuan recommended.
Agricultural sector goals for 2025
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has continued to approve the coffee replanting project for the period 2021-2025. The goal for the period 2021-2025 is to replant and graft nearly 110,000 hectares, with an expected export growth of 12%.
Regarding Vietnamese fruit and vegetable exports, the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association predicts the sector will bring in approximately 8 billion USD. For seafood, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Processing and Export projects a target of 11-12 billion USD in 2025.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/xuat-khau-nong-san-lien-tiep-pha-ky-luc-20241229092914987.htm
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