Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam’s agricultural sector registered remarkable achievements in 2022. Notably, exports of agricultural, forestry and aquatic products reached a new record of over 53.22 billion dollars, up 9.3 % year-on-year.
Specifically, the main agricultural products brought in 22.59 billion dollars (4.8%); forestry products, $16.93 billion (6.1%); aquatic products, 10.92 billion dollars (22.9%) and livestock products, 400 million dollars (7.1%).
The value of agricultural production increased by 3.33% and the value added of the sector in 2022 is expected to increase by more than 3%. The rate of forest cover has reached 42.02% and that of municipalities meeting the standards of the new rurality is over 73%.
The sector had 11 product groups whose exports exceeded one billion dollars, seven of which brought in at least three billion dollars each: wood and derived products (10.92 billion), shrimps (4.33 billion), coffee (3.94 billion), rice (3.49 billion), rubber (3.31 billion), fruits and vegetables (3.34 billion), cashew nuts (3.07 billion).
According to Lê Hang, communications director of the Association of Aquatic Products Producers and Exporters of Vietnam (VASEP), 2022 was the year when exports of aquatic products saw strong growth. The value of shrimp exports reached $4.3 billion, pangasius $2.4 billion and tuna, for the first time, $1 billion.
Processing of shrimp for export. Photo: VNA
Against the backdrop of inflation, Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) have brought great benefits, enhancing the competitiveness of Vietnam’s aquatic products, especially in markets party to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
Last year, some fruits and vegetables from Vietnam appeared on store shelves in many countries, helping to diversify the market for Vietnamese agricultural products. Typically, durian, sweet potato, swallows nest were exported to Chinese market, pomelo to USA, longan to Japan, lemon, grapefruit to New Zealand. In addition, due to strict food export policies of some countries, Vietnam’s rice exports hit a record high of 7 million tons. Dao Thê Anh, deputy director of the Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences, said agriculture has achieved spectacular results.
Regarding export markets, in the first 11 months of 2022, Asia ranked first with 44.7% market share, followed by America, 27.4%, Europe, 11.3%, from Oceania, 1.7% and from Africa, 1.7%. The United States remained the largest export market for Vietnamese agricultural products with 12.3 billion dollars, accounting for 25% of the market share. China ranked second with approximately $9.3 billion, accounting for 18.9% market share and Japan ranked 3rd, with a value of $3.9 billion, accounting for 7.9% market share. market.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in 2023 the agricultural sector will continue to make efforts to open more markets with more products. Dao Thê Anh said he is confident that exports of agricultural products will continue to grow in 2023. -VNA