By 2026, the agricultural sector aims for a total export value of agricultural, forestry, and aquatic products of 73-75 billion USD. The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MARD) stated that it will strengthen supply chain management, promote deep processing linked to brand building and logistics development; and expand domestic and export markets.

Standardizing raw material areas for agricultural exports.

Commenting on market trends, Mr. Nguyen Anh Phong, Deputy Director of the Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Strategy and Policy, stated that the impetus for market opening continues to be strengthened through the signing of export protocols, the expansion of product and enterprise codes as required by the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC), and the upgrading of testing laboratory systems to meet international standards. The effective utilization of free trade agreements such as EVFTA, CPTPP, RCEP, etc., is creating further growth potential for Viet Nam's agriculture, forestry, and fisheries.

According to Mr. Phong, international competition is shifting from a "volume-price" model to a "standardization-sustainability" model, requiring businesses to improve quality standards, ensure transparency in traceability, and meet environmental and social responsibility requirements.

Statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment show that by 2025, the entire sector had issued 9,336 planting area codes and 1,379 packaging facility codes for export of 20 types of fresh fruit, covering an area of approximately 444,800 hectares; maintaining more than 2,000 safe agricultural, forestry, and fisheries value chains. Nationwide, 322,491 hectares of crops and 7,960 establishments were certified VietGAP; 3,227 hectares of aquaculture with 681 establishments achieving VietGAP; 1,308 farms and livestock households achieving VietGAHP; and 32,690 hectares of crops and 355 establishments certified organic. This is an important foundation for the sector to continue expanding production according to standards, improving quality and competitiveness.

However, according to reports, many processing and exporting businesses are still facing a shortage of raw materials. The reason is not due to overall production volume, but rather to a breakdown in production linkages. Many contracts between businesses and farmers are only short-term purchase and sale agreements, not true production contracts.

Proactively respond to market fluctuations.

Assessing the agricultural export picture for the first two months of the year, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Tran Thanh Nam said that exports of agricultural, forestry and aquatic products in the early months of the year recorded positive results. However, major risks still come from non-tariff barriers, trade defense measures and complex geopolitical developments, which could affect transportation, payments and international trade flows.

According to Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam, in the coming period, the industry cannot simply focus on expanding markets or selling at high prices, but must proactively identify, forecast, and advise on solutions to respond to non-traditional barriers. Improving forecasting capabilities and developing scenarios to respond to fluctuations in international trade is an urgent requirement. The Deputy Minister also requested that associations, businesses, and banks strengthen coordination and share information early so that the industry can proactively manage and avoid being caught off guard when the market fluctuates.

Regarding the management of food quality and safety both domestically and for export, Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam emphasized that this is not only the responsibility of state management agencies but also requires close coordination with industry associations and businesses. The current focus is not only on standards and regulations but especially on traceability. The industry will shift strongly from planned inspections to unannounced inspections, strengthening post-inspection and early warning systems; focusing on monitoring risks for key products and concentrated raw material areas, especially those serving exports. The main areas of monitoring include pesticide residues, antibiotics, banned chemicals, and harmful microorganisms.

Besides standardizing raw materials according to experts, in the context of import markets increasingly imposing strict standards on quality, traceability, and carbon footprint, the development of preservation technology is becoming even more urgent.

One of the current priorities is building a smart cold supply chain. This system allows for the control of temperature, humidity, and microclimate throughout the storage and transportation process, from cold storage to containers and seaports.

According to assessments, as preservation technology improves, agricultural products will not only reduce losses but also gain access to more markets, especially distant markets with high standards. This helps businesses be more proactive in choosing transportation methods, reduce logistics costs, and enhance competitiveness.

In the long term, investing in preservation and advanced processing technologies will help Vietnamese agriculture shift from a raw material export model to an export model of high-value products. This is also a necessary direction for Vietnamese agricultural products to participate more deeply in the global value chain.

Source: Dai Doan Ket Newspaper 

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